Department for Transport

Car Sharing

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to ensure that charging infrastructure is suitable for car club use.

Rachel Maclean: This Government is investing £1.3 billion in accelerating the roll out of charging infrastructure over the next four years, targeting support on rapid chargepoints on motorways and major roads, and installing more on-street chargepoints near homes and workplaces. We want to make recharging electric vehicles as easy as refuelling a petrol or diesel car. We will soon be publishing our Transport Decarbonisation Plan to achieve net zero emissions across all modes of transport which represents the biggest piece of work we have ever done to tackle greenhouse gas emissions from transport. The holistic and cross-modal approach to decarbonising the entire transport system will set out a credible and ambitious pathway to deliver transport’s contribution to carbon budgets and meet net zero by 2050. E-car clubs and shared mobility will be considered within the Transport Decarbonisation Plan. Later this year we will publish an electric vehicle Infrastructure Strategy to set out the vision and action plan for charging infrastructure rollout needed to achieve the 2030/35 phase out successfully. This will set expected roles for different stakeholders and how Government will intervene to address the gaps between the current market status and our vision.

Railway Stations: Disability

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve the safety of train stations for people with disabilities.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Department is committed to improving safety across the rail network. The Department expects the industry to meet current accessibility requirements whenever it installs, renews or replaces station infrastructure. Failure to do so can lead to enforcement action by the Office of Rail and Roads. As well as the programme of accessibility improvements underway, we shall be bidding for further rounds of funding for Access for All schemes in the forthcoming Spending Review.

Department for Transport: Freedom of Information

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of  29 June 2021 to Question 21939, on Department for Transport: Freedom of Information, how many freedom of information requests his Department has referred to the central Cabinet Office Clearing House for advice on handling in the year 2020-21.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Department’s records show that between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021, of the 2,512 requests we received that were made under the Freedom of Information Act and the Environmental Information Regulations, 167 were referred to the Cabinet Office for advice on handling.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Sarah Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the level of support provided by the Government to local authorities for road surfacing in each of the last five years.

Rachel Maclean: During the last five years the Department for Transport has provided over £5.9 billion by formula to local authorities in England, outside London, to support the maintenance of the local road network. This funding is not ring-fenced, allowing local highway authorities to spend their allocations according to their own priorities.

Parking

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to prevent car repair workshops from parking vehicles on streets or in residential parking areas.

Rachel Maclean: Local authorities have existing powers to introduce Traffic Regulation Orders to restrict parking on their roads, where problems occur. They may prohibit parking altogether, or restrict it to particular times or types of user, e.g. residents. Local authorities are best placed to consider how to balance the needs of residents, emergency services, local businesses and those who work in and visit the area.

Department for Transport: Correspondence

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many items of written correspondence from hon. Members sent to Ministers in his Department have been (a) received and (b) replied to since 1 April 2020; and how many of those responses were responded to by (i) Ministers and (ii) officials.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Government recognises the great importance of the effective and timely handling of correspondence.The Cabinet Office is currently compiling data on the timeliness of responses to Hon. and Rt Hon. members from Government Departments and Agencies. This data will be released, and made available to Members, in due course.

Lifeboats: Finance

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will reinstate the Rescue Boat Grant Fund for independent lifeboat organisations.

Robert Courts: We will be considering the future of the Rescue Boat Grant Fund as part of the forthcoming review of government spending.Independent lifeboat organisations play a vital role in the safety of our coasts and waterways. The Fund has already provided nearly £6 million in support significantly enhanced the capacity of the sector.

Car Sharing: Air Pollution

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the impact of car clubs on air pollution; and what steps he is taking to support the growth of car clubs in the UK.

Rachel Maclean: My officials have engaged with car clubs in the past to understand their impact on air quality, and I would be happy to discuss this with them further.Local authorities are responsible for entering into agreements with car clubs to allow access to vehicles on the roads in their area, and authorities should consider this as part of the actions they are taking to tackle air quality problems.The Future of Mobility Urban Strategy was published in March 2019 and sets out in its Principles that "mobility innovation must help to reduce congestion through more efficient use of limited road space”. We will soon be publishing our Transport Decarbonisation Plan to achieve net zero emissions across all modes of transport which represents the biggest piece of work we have ever done to tackle greenhouse gas emissions from transport. Car clubs and shared mobility will be considered within the Transport Decarbonisation Plan and we recognise that these measures will also benefit air quality.

Public Transport: Coronavirus

Jim McMahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what impact assessments his Department has undertaken on the potential effect on covid-19 transmission of the removal of rules on the mandatory wearing of face coverings on public transport; and if he will publish those assessments.

Rachel Maclean: The Social Distancing Review: Report was published on 5 July. The Review considered a range of evidence related to social distancing, face coverings and 'work from home' guidance: scientific, social, economic and behavioural. The policies of international comparators were also considered.As outlined in the Prime Minister's speech, the UK has made huge progress this year, the deployment of vaccines by the National Health Service (NHS) has put the UK in a strong position to ease restrictions. The Government has continued to be led by data and will only move to step 4 subject to meeting the four tests.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Jim McMahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 June 2021 to Question 11609 on Rolling Stock: Procurement, what assessment he has made of the effect of  (a) provisions and (b) specifications of passenger rail operating contracts on ​the level of rolling stock leasing costs for new train fleets (i) procured and (ii) agreed by his Department since February 2016.

Chris Heaton-Harris: Rolling Stock ordered since 2016 was procured by the winner of the relevant franchise competition. The winner would through competition of both the manufacturing and financing deliver the best value bids as part of their bids for the franchise. The detailed specification would have been for the operator to decide taking into account the requirements of the Invitation to Tender for the appropriate franchise at that time.

Railways: Coronavirus

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with rail companies on potential changes to train announcements on covid-19 compliance measures for passengers.

Chris Heaton-Harris: Throughout the pandemic the Department has worked closely with the train operating companies to keep passengers and the public safe. Government has published Safer Travel guidance for operators which sets out measures that train operating companies can take to assess and mitigate the risks of Covid-19 for passengers. Based on this guidance, train operators are using a range of on board and station announcements to encourage passengers to travel safely, including using the length of the platform to board trains, wearing face coverings, and maintaining social distancing where possible.

Railways: Season Tickets

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 1 July 2021 to Question 23276, whether he has plans to introduce a national fixed discount level for flexible season tickets compared to annual season tickets on the same routes.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The flexible season ticket is a new option for commuters travelling 2-3 days a week. Previously, most flexible commuters have had no option but to use daily tickets or traditional season tickets, which work out as more expensive in the vast majority of cases.Fares vary widely across the network and this means that there is no fixed discount level that will work for everyone. Instead, we have chosen to price flexible season tickets relative to the options passengers already have on their route.That means the new flexible season tickets provide better value and convenience for most commuters travelling two to three days a week, compared to existing daily tickets or traditional season tickets.There are currently no plans to introduce a national fixed discount level.

Network Rail: Infrastructure

Jim McMahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of (a) increases in the steel price and (b) other commodity price fluctuations on Network Rail’s infrastructure investment programme during Control Period 6 from 2019 to 2024.

Chris Heaton-Harris: Our latest assessments do not currently predict an impact on Network Rail’s budget for Control Period 6. Network Rail are pro-actively monitoring commodity prices including steel following the recent volatility. They have long term contractual mechanisms in place to ensure that the prices they pay are based on independently compiled indices which protect them from short term spikes in market prices.

Treasury

Income Tax: Scotland

Ian Murray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what data is shared with HMRC by NHS Scotland, Scottish health boards or agencies to assist in the implementation of the Scottish rate of income tax.

Jesse Norman: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) administer Scottish income tax as part of the UK income tax system. Scottish income tax is collected through existing PAYE and Self-Assessment processes, which have been adapted to reflect Scottish income tax rates and thresholds. HMRC receive data from employers across the UK as part of their administration of income tax, and do not have any specific data-sharing arrangements with NHS Scotland or other Scottish health agencies to assist in the administration of Scottish income tax. Further information about how HMRC administer Scottish income tax and work with employers can be found in the Scottish Income Tax HMRC annual report 2020, which is published on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/scottish-income-tax-hmrc-annual-report-2020.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Young People

Alison McGovern: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of (a) the proportion of people on furlough who are aged under 25 and (b) the number of people aged under 25 who are at risk of unemployment once that scheme ends.

Jesse Norman: HM Revenue & Customs publish statistics on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme regularly. The latest statistics were published on 1 July 2021 and can be found on GOV.UK. Figures from these statistics show that on 31 May 2021, 14% of jobs on furlough (or 322,400) were held by an employee aged under 25. These are provisional figures. HMRC have not made an estimate of the number of people aged under 25 who are at risk of unemployment once that scheme ends. Recognising the impact the pandemic has had on young people, the Government has put in place a comprehensive package of support to help young people find work. This includes the £2bn Kickstart Scheme, which will create hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised jobs for young people, and the new Youth Offer, which provides a guaranteed foundation of support to all 18-24 year olds on Universal Credit in the Intensive Work Search group. The Government has also made significant investment in skills and training support to help young people build the skills they need to find work. This includes the expansion of traineeships for 16-24 year olds, a bespoke offer for school leavers to take high value Level 2 and 3 courses, and increased apprenticeship incentives for employers, with £3,000 for each new apprentice hired between 1 April 2021 and 30 September 2021.

Liverpool Victoria

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many meetings and on what dates (a) he, (b) the Financial Conduct Authority and (c) the Prudential Regulation Authority held with representatives of (i) Clifford Chance and (ii) other law firms retained by Liverpool Victoria during the conversion of Liverpool Victoria from a Friendly Society to a Company Limited by Guarantee; and if he will make a statement.

John Glen: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) are operationally independent from Government. The request for information on meetings the regulators have had has therefore been passed to the FCA and PRA, who will reply directly to the Honourable Member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Cash Dispensing

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the Government's timetable is for publishing a draft Bill on protecting access to cash in response to its consultation on legislative proposals; and what plans he has for how that draft legislation will relate to joint work by the Financial Conduct Authority, Payment Service Regulator and banking industry to protect access to cash.

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will give overall responsibility to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for maintaining a well-functioning cash system; and what discussions his Department has had with the FCA on that matter.

John Glen: The Government’s consultation on proposals for protecting access to cash for the long term will be open until 23 September 2021. Following the consultation, the Government will set out next steps for delivering on its commitment for legislating to protect access to cash.The consultation is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/access-to-cash-consultation. As detailed in its consultation, the Government proposes that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) becomes the lead regulator for oversight of the retail cash system, including having responsibility for monitoring and enforcing new legislative cash access requirements. In adopting this approach, the Government intends that the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) and Bank of England continue with their existing functions with regards to cash; coordinated actions by the FCA and PSR on cash as part of the COVID-19 response have shown that joint working between the regulators, at both strategic and operational levels, is working effectively. The Government has, and continues to be, closely engaged with the FCA, PSR, Bank of England, and industry in developing its cash access proposals, including through the Joint Authorities Cash Strategy Group, which provides a forum for the public bodies to formally co-ordinate respective approaches to access to cash. The Group is chaired by HM Treasury and attended by the Bank of England, PSR, and FCA.

Liverpool Victoria

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information his Department holds on the Financial Conduct Authority's oversight of Liverpool Victoria's conversion from a Friendly Society to a Company Limited by Guarantee; and if he will make a statement.

John Glen: The oversight of the process by which a friendly society converts to a company limited by guarantee is the responsibility of the financial services regulators, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Both the PRA and FCA had a statutory role in the conversion of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society to Liverpool Victoria Financial Services Limited in 2019. The Friendly Societies Act 1992 required the conversion to be confirmed by the PRA, and the PRA were required to consult the FCA on areas such as approval of the content of the member statement and the confirmation of the conversion. The FCA reviewed the terms of the conversion and provided challenge where appropriate in areas such as the member statement, which communicated the conversion to members, and the Independent Expert report. Beyond these requirements set out in legislation, the FCA also considered a number of broader issues in line with their statutory objectives, regarding treating customers fairly and communicating in a way which is clear, fair and not misleading.

Liverpool Victoria: Finance

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether Liverpool Victoria received covid-19-related financial support from the public purse in the last two years; and if he will make a statement.

John Glen: The Government is unable to provide a detailed breakdown of covid-19 related financial support individual firms have received as this information is commercially sensitive. Details of facilities made available under the covid loan schemes have been published where required by the European Commission’s Transparency Aid Module at the following website: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/competition/transparency/public?lang=en. For monthly data on the employers who have claimed through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) since December 2020, please see the published information at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employers-who-have-claimed-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme.

Inflation

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to safeguard the public finances in response to the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee's expectation that inflation will rise above 3 per cent.

John Glen: The UK has a strong monetary policy framework and the operationally independent Bank of England is responsible for inflation meeting its 2% target. The Bank of England expects the rise in inflation to be temporary, as they set out in the latest minutes of the Monetary Policy Committee, and expect it to return to its 2% target over their latest forecast. The government’s priority is to continue to invest in the economy to support recovery from the pandemic, whilst also returning the public finances to a sustainable path once the economic recovery is durably underway. The Chancellor has highlighted that at our higher level of debt, the public finances are more vulnerable to changes in inflation and interest rates. That is why at the Budget in March, the government announced fiscal repair measures that take the public finances back toward a sustainable path in the medium term with debt broadly stable and the current budget moving close to balance.

Skilled Workers: Vacancies

Alison McGovern: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the level of skills shortages in the labour market in each (a) sector and (b) region; and what method he used to make that assessment.

John Glen: The Chancellor makes regular assessments of the skills shortages in various sectors and across the UK. Through the Plan for Jobs announced in July 2020 and built on at the Spring Budget we significantly extended training opportunities for adults so that they can gain the skills they need to get a job. This support included funding to triple the number of traineeships and sector-based work academies, expanded incentives for employers to hire apprentices, and support for school leavers to take high value training courses where employment opportunities are not immediately available.

Employment: Young People

Alison McGovern: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of current youth employment data on national output in each (a) region and (b) sector of the economy.

John Glen: The pandemic is expected to leave lasting ‘scars’ on the UK economy's supply capacity, reducing the overall level of output in the long term. The OBR currently assumes there will be a 3% scarring impact on the UK economy from Covid-19, of which 1% comes from labour market supply impacts. This analysis is based on the impact of the pandemic on the labour market overall. More recent forecasts from the Bank of England and the International Monetary Fund have revised down their view of scarring in light of recent data. Scarring in the labour market is likely to occur because it can take a long time for some unemployed workers to retrain or relocate appropriately. That is why the Government has put in place a comprehensive package of support through our Plan for Jobs to help jobs and livelihoods and support the economy. We are continuing to protect jobs in every nation and region of the UK, including for younger workers, through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS). Provisional HMRC statistics indicate that as at 31 May 2021, 322,400 jobs were furloughed where the employee was aged 24 or under. As well as protecting jobs, we are also supporting young people to find new employment opportunities. This includes the £2bn Kickstart Scheme, which will create hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised jobs for young people, and our new Youth Offer, which provides a guaranteed foundation of support to all 18-24 year olds on Universal Credit in the Intensive Work Search group.

Treasury: Buildings

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury's Answer of 5 July 2021 to Question 23171 on Treasury: Buildings, which part or parts of Government other than the Treasury will be deploying the remaining 450 to 550 staff to the Darlington economic campus; and if he will make a statement.

Kemi Badenoch: There will be at least 750 roles based in the Darlington Economic Campus. In addition to HM Treasury, there will be roles from the Department for International Trade, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and the Office for National Statistics.

Cabinet Office

Ministers: Email

Jack Dromey: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to enforce Cabinet Office guidance on the use of private email accounts for government business by Ministers.

Julia Lopez: Further to the answers given on 8 July 2021, Cabinet Office Guidance to departments on the use of private emails provides guidance to departments (and their Ministers) on this issue.

Ministers: Email

Angela Rayner: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with the Information Commissioner since 27 June 2021 on the use of private email accounts for Government business by Ministers.

Julia Lopez: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answers given to questions on 8 July 2021.

Department of Health and Social Care: Email

Jack Dromey: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he has taken to ensure emails sent by Ministers in the Department of Health and Social Care relating to government contracts are available for (a) requests under the Freedom of Information Act and (b) the public inquiry into the Government’s response to the covid-19 pandemic.

Julia Lopez: Further to the answers given on 8 July 2021, record keeping and the management of information within the Department of Health and Social Care is a matter for the Department of Health and Social Care.

Cabinet Office: Correspondence

Sir Desmond Swayne: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to reply to the letter of 16 April 2021, addressed to the Secretary of State for International Trade but transferred to his Department, from the Rt hon. Member for New Forest West on his constituent and the import and export of historic vehicles.

Julia Lopez: I apologise for the delay in responding to the important points raised by the Rt Hon Member on behalf of his constituent. Lord Agnew responded to this letter on 6 July 2021.

Civil Service: Coronavirus

Angela Rayner: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether it is his policy that the civil service should return to physical work from 19 July 2021; and what plans he has to reduce the potential transmission of covid-19 within departmental buildings.

Julia Lopez: Subject to a final decision on 12 July, the Prime Minister has set out the arrangements that will be in place in England once we move to Step Four. It will no longer be necessary for the government to instruct people to work from home and so employers, including the Civil Service, will be able to support the safe return to the workplace for staff who have, for many months now, been working remotely, and at the same time, support those Civil Servants who have been in the workplace throughout the pandemic. Work will also continue to support those Civil Servants in other parts of the United Kingdom.Employers, including the Civil Service, will need to continue to take sensible precautions to reduce risk in the workplace and enable people to make informed decisions about how to manage the risk to themselves and others, including having a vaccination where they can, continuing with good hygiene practices and self-isolating if they have symptoms or have tested positive. These actions will help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and mitigate the risk of a resurgence which puts the NHS under unsustainable pressure.

Elections: Proof of Identity

Cat Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to publish an Equality Impact Assessments for the forthcoming Electoral Integrity Bill; and if he will make a statement.

Cat Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 1 July 2021 to Question 23232 on Elections: Proof of Identity, if he will provide details of the training that will be given to polling staff.

Chloe Smith: An Equality Impact Assessment was published alongside the Elections Bill: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3020/publicationsThe Cabinet Office will continue the detailed planning ahead of implementation nationally, working closely with those who will be responsible for delivery including Local Authorities, the Electoral Commission, Association of Electoral Administrators and Society of Local Authority Chief Executives.

Cabinet Office: Directors

Angela Rayner: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what expenses may be claimed by non-executive directors of Departments; how much was claimed by non-executive directors of his Department in the 2020-21 financial year; and whether details of those expense claims are published.

Angela Rayner: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many non-executive directors serve on the boards of government arms-length bodies.

Angela Rayner: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what sanctions apply to Ministers who fail to declare relevant interests or meetings.

Chloe Smith: Further to the letter sent to the Rt Hon Member from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 8 July 2021, Non-Executive Board Members are individuals appointed in line with the Corporate Governance Code for Central Government Department https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/corporate-governance-code-for-central-government-departments-2017Remuneration for Non-Executive Board Members is reported in the Cabinet Offices' Annual Report and Accounts and is available on our website.Non-Executive Directors on the boards of public bodies fulfil legal duties in accordance with the founding legal instruments, statutory or otherwise, of their organisation. The Cabinet Office publishes data on the number of public appointees on the boards of public bodies and in independent offices, appointed following the Governance Code on Public Appointments.Part 7 of the Ministerial Code sets out the expectations around Ministers’ private interests. Paragraph 8.14 of the Code sets out the expectations around meetings with external organisations.As set out in the Code, Ministers are personally responsible for deciding how to act and conduct themselves in light of the Code and for justifying their actions to Parliament and the public. The Prime Minister is the ultimate judge of the standards of behaviour expected of a Minister and the appropriate consequences of a breach of those standards. The Prime Minister recently accepted the recommendation of the Committee on Standards in Public Life that there should be a range of sanctions available where a breach of the Ministerial Code is determined to have occurred. The full letter is available on GOV.UK: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/981905/Letter_from_the_Prime_Minister_to_Lord_Evans__28_April_2021.pdf

Employment: Vacancies

Alison McGovern: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the (a) number of job vacancies in each sector and (b) rate of change in those vacancies over the last five years.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.UKSAs response to PQ27150 (xls, 58.5KB)UKSAs response to PQ27150 (pdf, 70.2KB)

Department of Health and Social Care

Department of Health and Social Care: Contracts

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what role Ministers in his Department had in the approval of contracts under the emergency procurement processes during the covid-19 outbreak.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust: Coronavirus

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the impact of the covid-19 outbreak on eating disorder services at Cotswold House, Oxfordshire; and what steps he is taking to reduce current waiting times for (i) assessment and (ii) psychological treatment at Cotswold House, Oxfordshire.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Brain: Tumours

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support the families and friends of patients with brain tumours.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Primary Health Care

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the level of pressure on primary care (a) services and (b) staff, including GPs, in the context of (i) increased service demand as a result of the covid-19 outbreak and (ii) the proposed reorganisation of the NHS.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Integrated Care Systems

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on healthcare provision of NHS reconfiguration through the creation of Integrated Care Systems during a period of high level demand for primary and secondary care.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has a threshold for the (a) r rate, (b) number of covid-19 related hospitalisations and (c) number of covid-19 related deaths at which the Government would introduce covid-19 restrictions after 19 July 2021.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the threshold is of covid-19-related (a) cases, (b) hospitalisations and (c) deaths that would delay the removal of restrictions on 19 July 2021.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of publishing information on the covid-19 vaccine status of (a) people who die within 28 days of a positive Covid test and (b) new covid-19 infections on rates of vaccine uptake.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the covid-19 vaccine status of (a) people who die within 28 days of a positive covid-19 test and (b) new covid-19 infections.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Matt Hancock

Mr Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the Rt Hon Member for West Suffolk, declared to his Department a personal interest relating to Gina Coladangelo, a non-executive director on the Departmental Board until 26 June 2021, in the period from 1 January 2019 to 26 June 2021.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Colour Vision Deficiency: Males

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve the rates of colour vision deficiency among men.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

General Practitioners: Females

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that female GPs remain within the profession.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

General Practitioners: West Yorkshire

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that West Yorkshire GP services retain their medical practitioners.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Surgical Mesh Implants

Aaron Bell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government has plans to investigate a potential link between the properties of polypropylene mesh and foreign body reaction, fibromyalgia and autoimmune disorders.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Surgical Mesh Implants

Aaron Bell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have had ventral mesh rectopexy surgery; and how many are experiencing complications as a result of that surgery.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Surgical Mesh Implants

Aaron Bell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, why rectopexy mesh injured patients are not entitled to access care in the new specialist mesh centres.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to prioritise people with (a) asthma and (b) other respiratory conditions for the covid-19 booster vaccination.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Mental Health Services: Finance

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has plans to provide additional support for primary care in response to increasing demand for mental health care from (a) adults and (b) children and adolescents.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS: Counter-terrorism

Sarah Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 28 June 2021 to Question 20546 on NHS: Counter-terrorism, what the (a) selection process, (b) role description and (c) balance of focus between healthcare and safeguarding is for the seven NHS England Regional Serious Violence and Contextual Safeguarding Leads.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Medicine: Education

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the proportion of medical students that remain within the medical profession in the long term.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Sarah Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that people without an NHS number are able to be certified as vaccinated against covid-19.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Care Homes: Coronavirus

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to help protect people from covid-19 infection in care home settings in the event that further easing of covid-19 restrictions is announced for the 19 July 2021.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Brain: Tumours

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to commit increased funding for brain tumour research.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Dental Health: Children

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 22 December 2020 to Question 106995 on Dental Health: Children, when his Department plans to hold a public consultation on a national early years supervised toothbrushing scheme for England.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Counselling: Children

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Appendix A of Transforming children and young people’s mental health provision: a green paper, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of counselling services in addressing mild to moderate mental health conditions among children.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Mental Health Services

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he will appoint an independent commissioner to oversee the closure of inappropriate inpatient care units and increased funding for community care to ensure that people can move from those institutions and be supported closer to home.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve the vaccine take up rate in areas where it is lower than the national average.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Travel: Coronavirus

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with EU counterparts to help ensure that UK citizens who received an Indian-made AstraZeneca vaccine will be able to participate in travel arrangements with the EU.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made use of the free flu jab list to identify patients who need to be prioritised for the covid-19 booster vaccinations.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Schools: Counselling

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Government Response to the Consultation on Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision: a Green Paper and Next Steps, published July 2018, what steps he is taking to support high-quality counselling services in schools.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS: Reorganisation

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how his Department plans to (a) consult NHS staff on its proposals for NHS reorganisation and (b) help ensure that those staff understand the impact of that reorganisation on the services they provide.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Sir Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to monitor the level of antibodies in clinically extremely vulnerable people who have had two doses of the covid-19 vaccine but, as a result of their condition or medication, might be expected to respond poorly to the vaccination.

Nadhim Zahawi: Public Health England has been monitoring the effectiveness of vaccinations in clinical risk groups which will include those with immunosuppression.From the evaluation of the vaccine programme, the data shows that completion of the two dose schedule correlates well with protection from both disease and severe outcomes, including hospitalisation and death.Virus Watch data, supported by the United Kingdom Research and Innovation and National Institute for Health Research COVID-19 rapid response initiative and the antibody testing team in NHS Test and Trace, provided information regarding patients antibodies which included immunocompromised patients as part of their cohort. This suggests some protection against COVID-19, but is only one measure of protection and does not look at cellular immunity which is important in terms of long-term immunity.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Sir Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what research is being carried out to improve the level of antibodies in clinically extremely vulnerable people who have had two doses of the covid-19 vaccine but, as a result of their condition or medication, might be expected to respond poorly to the vaccination.

Nadhim Zahawi: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is providing £4 million towards the OCTAVE study to examine the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in clinically at-risk groups, including patients with certain immunosuppressed conditions. UKRI has allocated a further £3 million towards a research call to support projects examining the nature and quality of COVID-19 vaccine responses and the mechanisms of immune failure that lead to either COVID-19 re-infection or vaccine breakthrough. This call is now closed and the results will be announced in due course.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will include people with asthma in his autumn 2021 programme of booster covid-19 vaccinations.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) published interim advice on a potential COVID-19 booster vaccination programme on 30 June, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jcvi-interim-advice-on-a-potential-coronavirus-covid-19-booster-vaccine-programme-for-winter-2021-to-2022The JCVI advises a two staged approach, with individuals in offered a booster, and flu vaccine as soon as possible from September. Individuals in stage two should be offered a booster vaccine as soon as practicable after stage one, with equal emphasis on deployment of the flu vaccine where eligible. Adults aged over 50 years old and those aged 16 to 49 years old who are in an influenza or COVID-19 at-risk group are included in stage two. Influenza at-risk groups are defined in the Green Book include some sufferers of chronic respiratory disease such as asthma.Final decisions on the timing and scope of the vaccine booster programme, as well as cohorts and eligibility, will be made later in the year, informed by further independent advice from the JCVI.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to prepare for a covid-19 booster vaccination programme before winter 2021.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) published interim advice on a potential COVID-19 booster vaccination programme on 30 June, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jcvi-interim-advice-on-a-potential-coronavirus-covid-19-booster-vaccine-programme-for-winter-2021-to-2022Final decisions on the timing and scope of the booster programme, as well as cohorts and eligibility, will be made later in the year, informed by further independent advice from the JCVI. NHS England and NHS Improvement are asking all local systems to develop detailed plans to ensure they are ready to deliver a booster programme from the start of September should this be required.

Gender Recognition: Surgery

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the current absence of an NHS provider of phalloplasty surgery, what steps the Government is taking to ensure the resumption of NHS phalloplasty surgery for trans men.

Jo Churchill: The contract for phalloplasty services is currently out to tender with a view for rapid contract award.

Food: Advertising

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will meet with representatives of the food and drink industry who will be affected by the introduction of the Government's proposed restrictions on the online advertising of products that are high in fat, salt and sugar; and if he will provide those representatives with the Government's planned timelines for the implementation of those proposed restrictions.

Jo Churchill: The Government has committed to implementing restrictions for TV and online simultaneously and will aim to do so at the end of 2022. This will give industry time to prepare and understand any guidance published by the Government or by regulators. There has been extensive engagement with key stakeholders and industry throughout the consultation and publication process. This will continue from the introduction of the Bill through to implementation of the restrictions.

Dental Services

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the availability of dental services where NHS dentists do not have capacity to provide treatment.

Jo Churchill: Over 700 dental practices continue to provide additional urgent services across the country to support the provision of urgent care, where a patient does not have or cannot access their own dentist.In order to increase availability of dental services, National Health Service dentists have been asked to maximise safe throughput to meet as many prioritised needs as possible, focussing first on urgent care and vulnerable groups followed by overdue appointments. This has been underpinned, taking into account current infection prevention and control guidelines, by the requirement for dental providers to deliver 60% of normal activity volumes for the first six months of 2021/22 for full payment of their NHS contractual value.

Food: Advertising

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2021 to Question 179006 on Food: Marketing and the statement in that Answer that his Department intends to lay secondary legislation before Parliament by mid-2021, by what date his Department plans to lay that secondary legislation.

Jo Churchill: We are awaiting confirmation of a laying date.

Prostate Cancer

Christian Wakeford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what formula his Department applies to the allocation of funding for NHS prostate cancer services to ensure that that funding increases in line with (a) the number of men being diagnosed and (b) requirements for ongoing treatment and monitoring.

Jo Churchill: NHS England is responsible for funding allocations to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and take advice on the underlying formula from the independent Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation. On 10 January the National Health Service published five-year indicative CCG allocations 2019/20 to 2023/24 which are available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/ccg-allocations-2019-20-to-2023-24-core-services/CCGs commission the majority of hospital and community NHS services in the local areas for which they are responsible for and assess the funding of services for individual cancers, such as prostate cancer. As decisions will be based on local populations needs, funding will be in line with the number of men being diagnosed and requirements for ongoing treatment and monitoring.

Pancreatic Cancer: Medical Treatments

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the prescription rates of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy for inoperable pancreatic cancer patients in England who are not treated in specialist centres.

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure pancreatic cancer patients are considered for pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy at the point of diagnosis in England.

Jo Churchill: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Slough (Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP) on 10 June 2021 to Question 11722.

Health Services: Coronavirus

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the level of pressure on secondary care (a) services and (b) staff in the context of high demand for services as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Edward Argar: We have made no formal assessment. The Spending Review in December 2020 announced £1 billion to support providers to tackle backlogs and address long waiting lists. In March 2021, the Government announced a further £6.6 billion to support the recovery of health services in response to COVID-19. Part of this funding will ensure the National Health Service can continue to provide the mental health and occupational health support services it has put in place for staff working on the frontline during the pandemic.

Health Services: West Yorkshire

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce the NHS backlog of medical procedures in West Yorkshire.

Edward Argar: We have made £1 billion available this year to the National Health Service to increase activity and tackle waiting lists. Trusts in West Yorkshire can access this funding as they increase their activity levels. In May, the NHS announced a £160 million accelerator initiative to rapidly trial further innovations and interventions to boost activity. The findings will be shared across all regions, providing a blueprint for elective recovery. There is support at a national and regional level for all systems, including the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership, to support them to reduce their waiting lists and deliver care to patients.

Cancer: Waiting Lists

Anne Marie Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the Government's long-term strategy is on tackling the backlog of people who have not started their first cancer treatment.

Jo Churchill: NHS Planning Guidance 2021/2022 outlines the cancer recovery priorities for 2021-22 and local systems, drawing on advice and analysis from their Cancer Alliance, will ensure that there is sufficient treatment capacity in place to meet cancer needs. Patients will benefit from approximately £1 billion allocated to tackle the elective backlog, including those awaiting treatment for cancer.

NHS Local Improvement Finance Trust:  Kingston upon Hull

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason a decision has yet to be taken by his Department on the refinancing proposals put forward by Hull Citycare Ltd Local Improvement Finance Trust.

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his Department's timeframe is for the decision on refinancing proposals put forward by Hull Citycare Ltd Local Improvement Finance Trust.

Edward Argar: Discussions are currently taking place between the Department and HM Treasury and we will provide further information on the timeframe for a decision in due course.

NHS: Reorganisation

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will delay his planned NHS reorganisation in the event that NHS commissioners and providers provide evidence that the timing of that reorganisation impacts on meeting the demand for services.

Edward Argar: The Health and Care Bill delivers on the National Health Service’s own proposals for reform in the NHS Long Term Plan. The Bill has been designed with and for the NHS and its partners and builds on improvements it has already made by the NHS. The NHS are ready for the legislative changes set out in the Bill and we have worked closely with them to ensure that the Bill’s implementation will support the NHS to better meet the needs of patients.

Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of making masks voluntary on public transport and in shops on the (a) covid-19 r rate, (b) number of hospitalisations from covid-19 and (c) number of deaths from covid-19.

Jo Churchill: Vaccines have significantly impacted upon the relationship between increased infections and hospitalisations and deaths. By 19 July, all adults will have been offered a first dose of the vaccine, a second dose to those over 40 years old who a first dose by mid-May. This will suppress the spread of COVID-19 and help prevent hospitalisation.We will continue to encourage the wearing of face coverings and highlight that wearing a face covering may still help to reduce risk of transmission, for example where people come into contact with others in enclosed and crowded indoor spaces. Emerging evidence and data is continually monitored and reviewed, and the guidance will be amended accordingly if needed.

Topham Guerin

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the value is of covid-19-related contracts awarded to Topham Guerin (a) in total and (b) without competitive tender.

Edward Argar: The Department has not awarded a contract to Topham Guerin.

Pancreatic Cancer: Health Services

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many pancreatic cancer referrals were made under NICE's two-week referral pathway in each month since January 2020.

Jo Churchill: This data is not available in the format requested.

Coronavirus: Screening

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what work was carried out by staff in his Department with companies offering to provide covid-19 tests that were designated as fast track.

Jo Churchill: All proposed business cases and contract awards were triaged by the NHS Test and Trace approvals secretariat and routed to appropriate delegated authorities or boards for review depending on value and nature of the required investment.

Coronavirus: Screening

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of the lateral flow tests the Government has bought have been registered as used to date.

Jo Churchill: The information is not held in the format requested.

Coronavirus: Screening

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what process was used to approve emergency contracts for covid-19 testing; and whether there was a fast track by which some offers were prioritised.

Jo Churchill: Authorities are allowed to procure goods, services and works with extreme urgency in exceptional circumstances using regulation 32(2)(c) under the Public Contract Regulations 2015. These include a direct award due to extreme urgency or the absence of competition. Under the regulation contracting authorities may enter into contracts without competing or advertising the requirement.We use Regulation 32 only where there is no alternative. All proposed business cases and contract awards are triaged by the NHS Test and Trace approvals secretariat and routed to appropriate delegated authorities or boards for review depending on value and nature of the required investment.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people who have had (a) one and (b) two doses of a covid-19 vaccine have (i) been admitted to hospital with covid-19 and (ii) died from covid-19 since 1 May 2020.

Nadhim Zahawi: This information is not available in the format requested. Public Health England monitors the number of people who have been admitted to hospital and died from COVID-19 who have received one or two doses of the COVID-19 vaccination and will publish this data in due course. The vaccine programme commenced in December 2020, therefore data regarding vaccines, hospitalisations and deaths is not available before that date.The technical briefing, published by Public Health England, provides the latest data regarding hospitalisations and deaths by variant, as well as data concerning those hospitalised with the Delta variant of COVID-19 who are vaccinated with one and both doses and those unvaccinated. Data is available from 1 February 2021 at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/investigation-of-novel-sars-cov-2-variant-variant-of-concern-20201201The vaccine surveillance report includes weekly vaccine uptake by age; daily observed and expected COVID-19 hospitalisations for those over 65 years of age and daily observed and expected COVID-19 related deaths for those over 60 years of age. However, this does not show information by vaccine dose. The weekly COVID-19 vaccine surveillance report is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccine-surveillance-report

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the cumulative number is of covid-19 vaccine doses found not suitable for use, by (a) vaccine type and (b) NHS Region of residence, since January 2021.

Nadhim Zahawi: The data is not held centrally in the format requested.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether it is his Department's policy that vaccines should be mixed in the event that a recipient of one dose of the AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine subsequently experiences a blood clotting condition.

Nadhim Zahawi: Public Health England’s Green Book, which provides COVID-19 vaccination information for public health professionals, advises that individuals who are suspected of having experienced a clotting episode with concomitant thrombocytopaenia following the first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine should be properly assessed. If they are considered to have the condition, further vaccination should be deferred until their clotting has completely stabilised and they should then be considered for a second dose of an alternative COVID-19 vaccine.

Obesity: Children

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the announcement in March 2021 of £70 million to support the expansion of weight management services, what proportion of that funding will be allocated to the expansion of specialist multidisciplinary weight management services (Tier 3) for children.

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the announcement in March 2021 of £70 million to support the expansion of weight management services, when further information will be provided on the proportion of funding to be allocate to NHS specialist multidisciplinary weight management services (Tier 3) for (a) adults and (b) children.

Jo Churchill: The NHS Long Term Plan and ‘Tackling obesity: empowering adults and children to live healthier lives’ support the drive to reduce obesity, including investment in specialist services for children and adults and plans are in development for this expansion. Of the £70 million announced in March 2021 to support the expansion of weight management services, £4 million has been allocated to tier 3 and 4 adult specialist weight management services in 2021/22. NHS England is working with regional teams and integrated care systems to develop a recovery plan for specialist weight management services and bariatric surgeries as required by the Mandate. The NHS Long Term Plan has allocated funding for the expansion of children specialist weight management services.

Coronavirus

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will ensure that published data on new covid-19 cases includes the number of (a) hospital admissions and (b) people who are in ICU beds.

Jo Churchill: Public Health England publishes rates of hospitalisation to all levels of care and separately, rates based on admission to intensive care units/high dependency units, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-flu-and-covid-19-surveillance-reportsData on COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital and patients on ventilation machines, as proxy for intensive care units, is available at the following link:https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

Podiatry

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support podiatric surgery services across the NHS in response to the elective waiting times.

Jo Churchill: The Elective Recovery Fund is providing £1 billion to tackle elective care backlogs, including podiatric surgery services. The National Health Service is currently engaging with the Royal College of Podiatry to discuss how podiatric services can be supported.

Coronavirus: South Asia

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the oral Answer of 8 June 2021 given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care, Official Report, column 811, on covid-19 positivity rates in Pakistan and India, from what period of time the data for the positivity rates referred to in that Answer were taken; on what date that decision was made; and if he will publish all the advice and information provided to him that informed that decision.

Jo Churchill: The quoted figures referred to the period 3 to 17 March 2021. The decision to place India on the ‘red list’ was made on 19 April.All decisions on the ‘red’, ‘amber’ or ‘green list’ assignment and our border regime are taken by Ministers, informed by evidence including the Joint Biosecurity Centre’s analysis as well as other relevant information about the risk of the spread of variants and other wider public health factors. We are unable to provide the information requested as it relates to ongoing development of Government policy.

Travel Restrictions: Coronavirus

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the full criteria for countries being (a) placed on and b) taken off the covid-19 travel red list.

Jo Churchill: Decisions to place countries on the ‘red list’ are taken by Ministers, informed by evidence including the Joint Biosecurity Centre’s (JBC) analysis as well as other relevant information about the risk of the spread of variants and other wider public health factors. We are unable to provide the information requested as it relates to the on-going development of Government policy.A summary of the JBC’s methodology is published alongside key summary data that supports Ministers' decisions, which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-risk-assessment-methodology-to-inform-international-travel-traffic-light-system/risk-assessment-methodology-to-inform-international-travel-traffic-light-system

Contraceptives

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the provisional national statistics for April to September 2020 on contraceptive provision in community sexual and reproductive health services that show a fall in the uptake of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that the full range of post-abortion contraceptive options including LARC are available via fully-funded services to all women.

Jo Churchill: Abortions provided by independent sector abortion providers must meet the Required Standard Operating Procedures (RSOPs). The Department’s RSOPs set out that abortion providers should be able to supply all reversible methods of contraception, including long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) and that before the woman is discharged, future contraception should have been discussed and, as far as possible, the chosen method should be initiated immediately. Failing this, an interim method should be provided. The RSOPs set out that particular attention should be given to the young and women who have had repeat conceptions and abortions and that women who choose not to start a contraception method immediately should be given information about local contraception providers in addition to their general practitioner. We expect that National Health Service trusts who provide abortion treatment will have similar arrangements in place.A temporary measure allowing for home use of both pills for early medical abortion up to 10 weeks gestation for all eligible women has been put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have issued clinical guidelines for healthcare professionals ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19) infectionand abortion care. Information for healthcare professionals’ which is available at the following link:https://www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/2020-07-31-coronavirus-covid-19-infection-and-abortion-care.pdfThe guidance sets out that women should be given the option to discuss contraceptive options and providers should offer to include a method of contraception in the treatment pack for home use of early medical abortion, especially when restrictions on available services will impact on a woman’s ability to access LARC.

Travel: Quarantine

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason people legally required to quarantine in hotels as a result of the covid-19 pandemic are being charged £1750; and if he will provide a breakdown of that cost.

Jo Churchill: The cost for providing managed quarantine facilities is largely met by charging those having to quarantine, which includes paying for COVID-19 tests and managed quarantine to ensure the protection of themselves and the public.The rate for one adult in one room for 10 days and 11 nights is £1,750. The normalised cost per person of managed quarantine is composed of 49% for the hotel, 2% for transport, 32% for security, 4% for testing and 13% for other costs.

NHS: Protective Clothing

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the value is of personal protective equipment purchased by the NHS in 2021 to date; and how much of that equipment was manufactured in the UK.

Jo Churchill: In financial year 2021/22, the total spend on personal protective equipment (PPE) to date is £330.5million. Of this, spend on PPE manufactured in the United Kingdom totals £96.2M.The Department created the dedicated UK Make programme to increase domestic production. UK Make contracted with manufacturers in the UK able to mobilise and produce PPE for the frontline. However, not all UK-based manufacturers which provided PPE to healthcare settings were part of this programme.The PPE programme raised contracts with 31 UK manufacturers and those contracts were all contracted by July 2020. We continue to receive goods purchased under those contracts and by 1 December 2020 inbound supply of UK manufactured PPE was sufficient to meet 82% of demand for PPE over the peak pandemic period of December to February, across all items except gloves.

Passenger Ships: Quarantine

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason seafarers who work for cruise ship operators have been required to isolate on arrival in the UK in the Managed Quarantine Service rather on board a non-operational ship with medical facilities.

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will designate non-operational cruise ships as a Managed Quarantine Service location using his powers set out in Schedule 11 of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Operator Liability) (England) Regulations 2021.

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the body of evidence that is required to be submitted by cruise ship operators to (a) Public Health England and (b) the Department of Transport relating to covid-19 since domestic cruises were permitted to operate from 17 May 2021.

Jo Churchill: The seafarer exemption was originally designed for seafarers involved in keeping critical freight moving in and out of the country, not for cruises. Noting increased risks associated with variants of concern, the exemption for seafarers was amended accordingly.We currently have no plans to designate non-operational cruise ships as Managed Quarantine Facilities using powers set out in Schedule 11 of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Operator Liability) (England) Regulations 2021.The Government is collecting data from cruise lines as part of the ongoing review of satisfactory evidence from domestic cruises which have restarted, to support progression to international cruise restart. We are unable to publish this information as it is commercially sensitive.

Travel: Coronavirus

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what public health risk assessment was carried out to help inform the decision on whether to exempt foreign visitors to the European football finals from covid -19 travel restrictions; and if he will make a statement.

Jo Churchill: There continues to be a robust public health risk assessment which informs the regular review of the travel restrictions and the exemptions on foreign visitors to the European Championships. A limited number of accredited guests have been given an exemption from COVID-19 borders restrictions to attend the latter stages of the tournament. These individuals will only be permitted to leave isolation for official events, including matches or UEFA meetings and will be subject to strict public health mitigations, developed with the input of Public Health England and in line with other international events such as the G7. This will include regular testing, use of designated accommodation and private transport and compliance with all other COVID-19 restrictions, including social distancing, face coverings, and test, trace and isolation.

Eyesight: Testing

Colleen Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of routine eye appointments that have been missed as a result of the covid-19 outbreak in (a) Coventry North East constituency, (b) Coventry, (c) the West Midlands and (d) England; what assessment he has made of the impact of missing regular eye tests on eye health in those areas; and what steps his Department is taking to encourage take-up of routine eye tests during the covid-19 outbreak.

Jo Churchill: No estimate has been made. Despite routine National Health Service eye care services being suspended at the start of the pandemic, a number of optical practices continued to provide essential eye care, including the provision of clinically necessary NHS sight tests and remote prescribing of glasses.High street optical practices have been providing face to face care since 15 June 2020, subject to having the relevant infection protection control and personal protective equipment in place. The Standard Operating Procedure for optical settings issued in October 2020, asked practices to restore NHS activity to usual levels where safe and clinically appropriate to do so and to contact clinically vulnerable patients and those whose care may have been delayed. NHS England has advised that NHS sight tests are now back to, or above, pre-pandemic levels.

Protective Clothing: Graphene

Sir Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the Government of Canada’s decision to advise citizens not to use face masks that contain graphene due to the possibility that they could inhale graphene particles which may be a health risk; and if he will make an assessment of whether a similar warning is necessary in the UK.

Jo Churchill: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have not received any reported adverse events relating to medical and surgical face masks containing graphene. The MHRA continues to review all available information and will issue safety information as and when necessary.

Travel: Quarantine

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether people in mandatory covid-19 hotel quarantine are able to make claims for compensation.

Jo Churchill: The managed quarantine measures only apply to people travelling from ‘red list’ countries as these countries are judged to pose a risk to the United Kingdom from variants of concern and inbound international travel. The Government advises against travel to these countries and does not offer compensation for those who spend time in a managed quarantine facility.

Travel: Quarantine

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether there is a body in addition to his Department that hon. Members can contact regarding hotel quarantine exemptions, in the event of no response from his Department.

Jo Churchill: All applications for exemptions to managed quarantine should be sent to the Department where they will be assessed.

General Practitioners

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure access to GP appointments is available by both telephone and online booking systems.

Jo Churchill: NHS England and NHS Improvement’s Access Improvement Programme is supporting practices to make online access tools available so that patients can submit requests online to their practice. These tools are provided alongside other access routes such as by telephone and in person.

Joint Replacements

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to answer to question 5226, tabled on 21 May 2021, what data is mandatorily held by (a) health services and (b) his Department on the provision of joint replacement treatment.

Edward Argar: Hospital trusts mandatorily submit data to the secondary uses services database, which includes information such as patient age and sex, admission and discharge, their diagnoses and which procedures were performed. NHS England and NHS Improvement can access the pseudonymised data through the Hospital Episode Statistics database held by NHS Digital or the National Commissioning Data Repository, held by NHS England and NHS Improvement.Although not mandatory, NHS England and NHS Improvement extract data on hip, knee, and shoulder replacements and provide this information to trusts and health systems. The Department does not hold any data.

Department of Health and Social Care: Correspondence

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many items of written correspondence from hon. Members sent to Ministers in his Department have been (a) received and (b) replied to since 1 April 2020; and how many of those responses were responded to by (i) Ministers and (ii) officials.

Edward Argar: Between 1 April 2020 and 31 June 2021, the Department received 44,456 items of written correspondence from hon. Members, of which 37,527 have received a reply.The information requested on the number of responses from Minister and officials is not collected centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Coronavirus: Health Services

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients who pay for their healthcare as a result of their immigration status are not charged for treatment for covid-19; and what monitoring his Department is undertaking on the charging for that treatment by hospitals.

Edward Argar: Regulations came into force on 29 January 2020 to add COVID-19 to Schedule 1 of the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 2015. This means there can be no charge made to an overseas visitor for the diagnosis, or if positive, treatment of COVID-19. This message has been disseminated to National Health Service staff, the public and organisations representing vulnerable migrant groups. It has also been published in forty languages on Public Health England’s Migrant Health Guide.The Department does not monitor NHS trusts on the individual charges that are made to overseas visitors, or where exemptions for charge are given, for example for the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Members: Correspondence

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many items of written correspondence from hon. Members sent to Ministers in his Department have been (a) received and (b) replied to since 1 April 2020; and how many of those responses were responded to by (i) Ministers and (ii) officials.

Eddie Hughes: The Government recognises the great importance of the effective and timely handling of correspondence.The Cabinet Office is currently compiling data on the timeliness of responses to Hon. and Rt Hon. members from Government Departments and Agencies. This data will be released, and made available to Members, in due course.

First Time Buyers

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much funding from the Affordable Homes Programme is planned to support First Homes by the end of 2021.

Christopher Pincher: The Government will shortly be launching a First Homes pilot using Affordable Homes Programme funding, which will deliver 1,500 First Homes by March 2023. The quantity of grant to be allocated within calendar year 2021 will be established once we have received bids for the pilot, and awarded contracts.

Townhouse Consulting

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the (a) role, (b) length of contract and (c) value of contract was for work undertaken by Townhouse Consulting Ltd for Homes England.

Christopher Pincher: Homes England appointed Townhouse Consulting Limited to support the implementation of the Agency's pay and grading review. The value of the contract is £174,000 for an initial period of 21 June 2021 to 17 December 2021. The award will provide Homes England with the additional capability and capacity needed to deliver critical changes required to address pay equality across the Agency's pay and grading structures.

Buildings: Insulation

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to announce full details of the long-term, low interest, government-backed financing arrangement for cladding removal in buildings between 11 and 18 metres, announced in February 2021.

Christopher Pincher: On 10 February, we announced a generous finance scheme, which will provide leaseholders in residential buildings of 11-18 metres with access to finance for remediation of dangerous cladding, and a commitment that their monthly repayment costs through the scheme will not exceed £50 a month. We will publish more information on the scheme as soon as we are in a position to do so.

Urban Areas

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 1 July 2020, HCWS145 on Revitalising high streets and town centres, whether any consultation responses from local government support his steps to reduce the use of Article 4 directions.

Christopher Pincher: We consulted on proposed revisions to the policy on Article 4 directions in the National Planning Policy Framework and National Model Design Code: Consultation Proposals in January 2021. Following analysis of the consultation responses, we have refined the proposed Article 4 policy wording to ensure an appropriate balance between delivering a higher threshold to protect smaller geographical areas only and maintaining local flexibility in defining these areas.

Planning: Public Participation

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to increase community involvement in the planning process.

Christopher Pincher: We are going to ensure that there is more engagement and more local democracy, not less. Currently less than 1% of people engage with local plan-making, and only 3% with individual planning applications. We will ensure that the planning system is faster, with plans produced in 30 months, not seven years, and more accessible so that millions more engage with it.We also want more neighbourhood plans in northern and urban areas. We will ensure that they become ubiquitous and remain a key part of the planning system.

Environmental Health

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to ensure that the environmental health profession is supported through adequate (a) funding and (b) skills and training to deliver its services.

Luke Hall: We understand that regulatory services teams, including environmental health officers, have faced significant pressures during the period of pandemic response. The Regulatory Services Task and Finish Group, which was set up by the Department in December 2020, has considered these issues in partnership with the Local Government Association and with senior colleagues from local authorities. The Group is currently finalising a set of recommendations which will aim to support the development and retention of a skilled environmental health workforce.

Mayors

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has plans to bring forward legislative proposals for the creation of additional metro mayoralties in England.

Luke Hall: Levelling up all areas of the country remains at the centre of the Government’s agenda and we remain committed to devolving power to people and places across the UK. Our plans for strengthening local accountable leadership will now be included in the Levelling Up White Paper.In March, Ministers wrote to local leaders in the North East and Hull & East Yorkshire welcoming discussions on new devolution deals for these areas. We look forward to continuing these conversations over the summer.

Counter-terrorism

Sarah Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 28 June 2021 to Question 20548 on Counter-terrorism, for what reason his Department does not specifically engage communities to discuss their views on Prevent.

Eddie Hughes: I refer the Hon Member to my answer to Question UIN 20548 on 28 June 2021. Prevent is not within the policy remit of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Directors

Florence Eshalomi: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when his Department’s current non-executive directors were appointed; what oversight officials had of Ministerial appointments of those non-executive directors; and what assessment was made of their experience against the requirements for breadth and depth of experience set out in the Cabinet Office guidance on Departmental Boards of November 2014.

Eddie Hughes: Departments follow the principles set out in Cabinet Office/HM Treasury 'Corporate governance in central government departments: code of good practice'. Information on all appointments can be found on the Government website.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Directors

Florence Eshalomi: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what declarations of interests have been made by his Department’s non-executive directors; and where that information is published.

Eddie Hughes: Non-executive directors comply with the provisions of the Cabinet Office's Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies which will be available on Gov.uk.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Directors

Florence Eshalomi: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what financial payments his Department makes to its non-executive directors; how many times his departmental Board will meet in 2021-22; and what work the non-executive directors undertake.

Eddie Hughes: This information is published in the Department's annual report and accounts, available on Gov.uk.The Department's report and accounts for 2021-22 will be published in due course, in the usual way.Departmental boards provide strategic leadership for each central government department, as well as advising on/challenging how the department is performing. Each board is chaired by the Secretary of State and includes junior ministers, the permanent secretary and non-executive board members. Non-executives are appointed to government departments from the public, private and voluntary sectors. Their role is to provide advice and bring an external perspective.Board meetings are scheduled on a regular basis in line with best practice subject to availability of members.A summary of the work of non-executive directors across Government can be found in the Government Lead Non-Executive's annual report, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-lead-non-executives-annual-report-2019-to-2020.

Caravan Sites: Travellers

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans the Government has to reintroduce pitch targets and statutory duties for local authorities to meet the assessed needs for sites for Gypsies, Roma and Travellers.

Eddie Hughes: The Government encourages local planning authorities to make their own assessment of need for traveller sites, and in producing their local plan to identify sites to meet that need. This includes setting pitch targets for gypsies and travellers and plot targets for travelling showpeople. These plans are robustly tested by an independently appointed Inspector before they can be adopted by the authority.

Community Ownership Fund

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when his Department plans to publish the full bidding prospectus for the Community Ownership Fund.

Eddie Hughes: My Department will be publishing shortly the prospectus for the Community Ownership Fund. In most cases, community groups will be able to make the case for up to £250,000, matching funds which communities have raised.  The prospectus will set out detailed advice on how to structure a bid, what activity to undertake to support this, what information to include, and the criteria by which bids will be assessed.     I will update the House when the bidding prospectus is published to ensure that your constituents are fully informed of how this Government are supporting local people to protect and sustain important local assets by bringing them into community ownership.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Freedom of Information

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the letter from the Information Commissioner’s Office of 24 March 2021 entitled, Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) Decision notice, reference IC-44478-C9Q4, whether his Department has complied with the Commissioner’s requirement for his Department to disclose the nine sets of minutes from the Windrush Commemorative Committee produced from June 2018 to 8 April 2020.

Eddie Hughes: The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government has disclosed the information to the requester.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Ministers' Private Offices

Florence Eshalomi: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what private companies are contracted to provide security services at his Department’s buildings that contain Ministerial private offices; and whether there are closed circuit television cameras in any Ministerial private office within his Departmental estate.

Eddie Hughes: As has been the case under successive Administrations, it is not government policy to comment on security procedures in government buildings.

Holiday Accommodation: Noise

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Government has made an assessment of the effect of (a) Airbnb and (b) other short-term rental lets on levels of noise and disruption for permanent residents in (i) the City of Durham and (ii) England.

Eddie Hughes: Whilst we have not made specific assessments relating to the effect of short-term lets on noise and disruption, we are clear about encouraging responsible short-term letting, where hosts behave in accordance with the law and with respect for both their guests' safety and their neighbours' peace. The Considerate Short-Term Lets Charter currently helps hosts to do so.

Holiday Accommodation

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans the Government has to allow local authorities to manage the level of short-term (a) Airbnb and (b) other rental lets.

Eddie Hughes: We encourage industry to continue to explore voluntary measures which would support local authorities to use their powers to stamp out bad practice.We want to encourage responsible short-term letting, where hosts behave in accordance with the law and with respect for both their guests' safety and their neighbours' peace. The Considerate Short-Term Lets Charter currently helps hosts to do so.  Furthermore, through Tourism Recovery Plan, published on 11 June 2021, we are looking to consult on the possible introduction of a Tourist Accommodation Registration Scheme in England.

Private Rented Housing: Coronavirus

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance has been given to private landlords and estate agents with tenants who are having to self-isolate with covid-19 after the end date of their tenancy.

Eddie Hughes: We have strongly urged accommodation providers to be flexible in extending tenancies and delaying moves if tenants are isolating due to COVID-19. However, under The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Self-Isolation) (England) if someone is legally obliged to move, they are allowed to do so even if isolating.The Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-and-renting-guidance-for-landlords-tenants-and-local-authorities/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-landlords-and-tenants.Further information on how landlords can support tenants struggling as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic through delay seeking repossession of your property can be found in our possession action process guide for private landlords here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/understanding-the-possession-action-process-guidance-for-landlords-and-tenants/understanding-the-possession-action-process-a-guide-for-private-landlords-in-england-and-wales.

Private Rented Housing: Students

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance is available for students who are self-isolating with covid-19 in a privately-owned house of multiple occupation after their tenancy end date.

Eddie Hughes: MHCLG has produced guidance on moving home during the outbreak which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/government-advice-on-home-moving-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak.Accommodation providers have also been urged to extend tenancies and delay moves if tenants are self-isolating due to COVID-19, and some universities do provide temporary accommodation to those in this situation.

Ministry of Justice

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of personal independence payment decisions where claimants were awarded zero points have been overturned at independent tribunals in each of the last five years.

Chris Philp: This information is not held centrally. HM Courts & Tribunals Service’s statistical records do not include information on the number of points awarded to appellants by the Department for Work and Pensions. Tribunal outcomes including overturn rates are published at:www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics.

Ministry of Justice: Correspondence

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many items of written correspondence from hon. Members sent to Ministers in his Department have been (a) received and (b) replied to since 1 April 2020; and how many of those responses were responded to by (i) Ministers and (ii) officials.

Chris Philp: The Government recognises the great importance of the effective and timely handling of correspondence.The Cabinet Office is currently compiling data on the timeliness of responses to Hon. and Rt Hon. members from Government Departments and Agencies. This data will be released, and made available to Members, in due course.

Youth Custody

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) in England 2019-20 annual report, published by Independent Monitoring Boards in June 2021, what plans he has to conclude the rollout of (a) the Framework for Integrated Care (SECURE STAIRS) and (b) the Custody Support Programme (CuSP).

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) in England 2019-20 annual report, published by Independent Monitoring Boards in June 2021, what steps he is taking to ensure that appropriate practical education and training are provided in young offender institutions.

Alex Chalk: During this period of unprecedented challenge, we have been required to take necessary actions in order to protect children and staff. Whilst these measures have regrettably impacted access to regime, they have been successful in containing the virus saved lives. Since ‘face to face’ education recommenced in public sector YOIs in July 2020, our sites have been providing both in-person and remote learning, operating with smaller class sizes.During the pandemic, the Youth Custody Service (YCS) has worked with our partners from NHS England to deliver an enhanced model of ‘SECURE STAIRS’, the integrated framework of care providing the foundations for how we work with children. This focused on the importance of connectivity and took into account the impact of COVID-19, and the vulnerabilities of children and young people with complex needs. Whilst we remain committed to further embedding CuSPin our YOIs, as part of our reform programme which is running until the end of 2023, the ‘COVID-19 Support Plan’, a less intensive and physically distanced version of CuSP, is also being delivered to children and young people at this time. This plan takes into consideration the challenges of COVID-19 by allowing sites within the children and young people secure estate to maintain key relationships between staff and children, while supporting those with the most significant needs.Following the announcement of the national restrictions at the start of January 2021, the decision was made to maintain a Stage 3 regime (and not move to Stage 4 with the wider prison estate) balancing the need to ensure the safety of staff and children, whilst also providing key aspects of regime delivery to children such as education and social interaction. In practical terms this meant the continued delivery of education, and access to gyms as part of educational PE lessons. The YCS is also taking the lessons learned from the pandemic to inform future delivery approaches. The principle of flexibility is a key part of this ethos, to allow sites and providers greater ability to meet the bespoke needs of children. This will look to be incorporated through the education (learning services) retender, which will be focused on the integration of education, custody and health services as part of a more flexible service, whilst being agile enough to continue to meet the needs of children as these change over time.

Child Contact Centres: Domestic Violence

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how the cost of contact is assessed when a contact centre is used as part of domestic violence cases.

Kit Malthouse: Practice Direction 12J sets out that the family court will, on a case by case basis, make decisions on the details of contact where domestic abuse has happened - “Where any domestic abuse has occurred but the court, having considered any expert risk assessment and having applied the welfare checklist, nonetheless considers that direct contact is safe and beneficial for the child, the court should consider what, if any, directions or conditions are required to enable the order to be carried into effect” The cost of child contact at a contact centre can vary significantly dependent on how the particular centre is funded, the range of services on offer and the expertise of the staff. Many contact centres acknowledge that finance can be a barrier to children having contact and are able to provide support or signposting to other services that have the resource to be able to support parents.

Rape: Criminal Proceedings

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to page 48 of The End-to-End Rape Review Report on Findings and Actions, published on 17 June 2021, what steps he is taking to ensure victim credibility is not undermined by rape myths and their influence on the court room.

Kit Malthouse: As part of the recently published End-to-End Rape Review Report on Findings and Actions, the Government announced that the Law Commission has agreed to examine the law, guidance and practice relating to the use of evidence in prosecutions of serious sexual offences and consider the need for reform. The project will likely consider issues including the way rape myths are tackled as part of the court process. As set out in that Report, the Government is committed to implementing the findings of the Law Commission within 12-24 months. In addition to this work, and as also set out in the Rape Review report, the CPS has recently, following consultation, updated its rape legal guidance to include more content on rape myths and stereotypes, and prosecutors are being trained on this updated guidance to ensure they do not adversely affect decision-making. In addition, recognising that communication has a role to play in changing harmful societal attitudes that lead to rape myths and stereotypes, the Government is working to develop a campaign to create long-term behaviour change.

Dovegate Prison: Correspondence

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions his Department is having with HMP Dovegate on allowing family members to send handmade cards and letters to inmates.

Alex Chalk: Due to concerns about the amount of new psychoactive substances that were being sent to prisoners through incoming mail, a decision was made at Dovegate to temporarily stop shop bought and handmade cards coming into the prison. Prisoners were notified of this decision and the rationale behind it. Cards that arrive that do not adhere to these new procedures can either be photocopied or placed in the storage to be given to the prisoner concerned at a later date.

Administration of Justice: Racial Discrimination

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the findings of the report Worst-Case Scenario: How Racism in the Criminal Justice System Harms Women’s Chances of Finding Work, published by Working Chance on 29 June 2021.

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the report Worst-Case Scenario: How Racism in the Criminal Justice System Harms Women’s Chances of Finding Work, published by Working Chance on 29 June 2021, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of commissioning an independent review that focuses specifically on disparities in the treatment of and outcomes for racially minoritised women in the criminal justice system.

Alex Chalk: In the Female Offender Strategy, we committed to looking at how the of distinct needs minority ethnic and non-British national women in the criminal justice system can be addressed. This includes: establishing the Female Offender Minority Ethnic Working Group (FOME) to identify ways of improving outcomes for ethnic minority and non-British national women; taking forward findings from user centred research on reducing barriers these women face in understanding the legal processes they experience from arrest to pre-sentencing; developing cultural awareness training for staff that work with women that will look at the impacts of culture, faith and sustaining family relationships. Two updates published since the Government response to the Lammy Review have described the wide range of activity taking place to address race disparity in the criminal justice system and we are now considering the findings and recommendations of the independent Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, as part of the Government’s response.We will study the conclusions of the report Worse-Case Scenario and officials from the Ministry of Justice will meet with the authors.

Prisoners' Release

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to page 10 of the Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) in England 2019-20 annual report, published by Independent Monitoring Boards in June 2021, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the timely provision of accommodation and support for looked after young people and prison leavers, especially for those released after their 18th birthday by local authorities.

Alex Chalk: For children and young people leaving custody, it is vital for accommodation to be arranged sufficiently in advance of their release date and we are implementing a range of measures to improve the timeliness of accommodation provision. The Youth Custody Service is reforming resettlement planning in the four public sector Young Offender Institutions to ensure that planning begins at the start of a child’s sentence, which will improve the timeliness of arrangements for accommodation and wider resettlement support. In addition, the Ministry of Justice, in collaboration with the Department for Education and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, is exploring additional options to improve the timeliness and suitability of accommodation provision for children and young people leaving custody. Young people released after their 18th birthday will have access to temporary accommodation through our £20 million investment package for prison leavers at risk of homelessness. Accommodation will be provided for up to 12 weeks alongside support into long-term settled accommodation. This initiative will support 3,000 young people and adults leaving custody in its first year.

Youth Custody

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) in England 2019-20 annual report, published by Independent Monitoring Boards in June 2021, what recent estimate he has made of the number of young people held in segregation for more than a week while awaiting transfer to a secure healthcare setting.

Alex Chalk: On average 10 children transfer to secure hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983 Part III from the youth secure estate each year. Of these, most transfer in a timely way, however there are a small number of cases where the child either has a complicated presentation that requires an extended assessment period, or where the child does not fit the criteria for admission and/or detention.Over the last few years, a small group of children have been identified as extremely high harm and high risk. To better understand these children and their needs, NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE&I) commissioned a clinical review of these cases to support future policy and commissioning. NHSE&I has received the final report, and we will be reviewing the evidence and recommendation together with our partners to evaluate next steps.A revised procedure for the transfer or remission of children under the Mental Health Act 1983 Part III in youth custody will be published in Summer 2021.More widely, the Youth Custody Service is committed to minimising the use of separation in YOIs and is creating a new system of separation through the development of the new framework. Children should only be separated as a response to risk, for only as long as it is necessary to manage that risk, and with decisions to separate children subject to regular review and oversight. Planning for the child’s reintegration should start from the point at which separation is considered, as part of our wider approach to integrated care.The YCS internally captures and records incidents of separation in YOIs and we expect to begin publishing suitable separation data to effectively inform practice, on a quarterly basis from 2022/23.

Marriage: Humanism

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans the Government has to recognise in law humanist marriage ceremonies.

Alex Chalk: A Law Commission project on marriage and civil partnership is due to report later this year and is expected to present recommendations for wholesale reform to the law governing marriage ceremonies, which the Government will consider carefully.Options being explored by the Law Commission as part of their review include offering couples greater flexibility over the form of their ceremony, allowing the ceremony to take place in a much broader range of locations and to provide a framework that could allow non-religious belief organisations, such as Humanists and independent celebrants, to conduct legally binding weddings. The Government will decide on provision for non-religious belief marriage in light of the Law Commission's recommendations.

Ministry of Justice: LGBT People

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 24 June 2021 to Question 19709, Prisoners: Gender Recognition what assessment he has made of the potential impact on the consultation process with external stakeholders of his Department's recent decision to withdraw from the Stonewall Diversity Champion Scheme.

Alex Chalk: The Ministry of Justice and Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service policy framework 'The Care and Management of Individuals who are Transgender' was published in 2019. A routine review of the implementation and effectiveness of this policy is underway. The review will involve consultation with a range of internal and external stakeholders.This review is entirely independent of the decision that the Ministry of Justice will not renew membership of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Scheme. We will carry on championing equality for all and our commitment to LGBT+ inclusion across the organisation is as strong as ever.We will also continue to work with a wide range of external organisations, alongside our internal experts and thriving networks.

Youth Custody

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) in England 2019-20 annual report, published by Independent Monitoring Boards in June 2021, what recent estimate he has made of the number of young people held in segregation for more than a week while awaiting transfer to the adult estate.

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) in England 2019-20 annual report, published by Independent Monitoring Boards in June 2021, what steps he is taking to ensure timely transfers of young people to the adult estate.

Alex Chalk: The Youth Custody Service (YCS) is working in partnership with HM Prison and Probation Service colleagues to develop a national transitions pathway that will ensure more efficient and timely transfers for all young people being transitioned to the young adult estate.This will be underpinned by a transitions policy framework to bring consistency and alignment in the approach taken across the children and young people secure estate.A pilot with young adults from Wetherby Young Offender Institution (YOI) transitioning to HMYOI Deerbolt is underway, with the intention that an agreed national transitions policy will be published by the end of the summer, with implementation to follow thereafter.We are committed to minimising the use of separation in our YOIs and are creating a new system of separation as part of the development of the new framework. Children should only be separated as a response to risk, for only as long as it is necessary to manage that risk, and with decisions to separate children subject to regular review and oversight. Planning for the child’s reintegration should start from the point at which separation is considered, as part of our wider approach to integrated care. To this end, we have engaged with a range of stakeholders to ensure the framework is fit for purpose and addresses the concerns raised by HM Inspectorate of Prisons and others.The Youth Custody Service internally captures and records incidents of separation in YOIs and we expect to begin publishing sufficient, suitable and accurate separation data, to effectively inform practice, on a quarterly basis in 2022/23 and onwards.

Prisoners: Gender Recognition

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 24 June 2021 to Question 19709, Prisoners: Gender Recognition, which external stakeholders he is consulting as part of the review of the policy framework, The Care and Management of Individuals who are Transgender.

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 24 June 2021 to Question 19709 on Prisoners: Gender Recognition, which organisations are providing legal advice to inform that review.

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 24 June 2021 to Question 19709, Prisoners: Gender Recognition, what steps he is taking to ensure that the review will include an assessment of the compliance of policy with the rights of female prisoners under Article 3 of the Human Rights Act not to be subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Alex Chalk: The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service operational policy framework 'The Care and Management of Individuals who are Transgender' was published in 2019. A routine review of the implementation of this framework is underway. The stakeholders to be consulted as part of this review will be finalised in due course and will include a range of internal and external stakeholders. The Government Legal Department advises the MoJ on policy and operational matters. Naturally, MoJ received full legal advice in the formulation of this policy framework and will do so, where appropriate, throughout the review to ensure that all people in prison and on probation are managed safely with their rights properly respected, and in accordance with the law.

Department for International Trade

Department for International Trade: Consultants

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what key deliverables were set out in her Department’s contracts with (a) Omnicom, (b) M&C Saatchi, and (c) Bray Leino for the financial years (a) 2019-20 and (b) 2020-21.

Greg Hands: The Department for International Trade has contracts with the named agencies that provide services to support the Department’s export and investment work, both in the UK and internationally. Over the specified periods their contractual deliverables included: Media planning and buying from Omnicom, the Government’s media buying agency. Strategic marketing services, including research and creative solutions from M&C Saatchi. In 2019-20 this was for the Department’s international work. In 2020-21 they were awarded a contract for domestic and international projects through an open tender process. Event production and delivery, including major world events like Dubai Expo from Bray Leino.

Trade Agreements

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, which of the Government’s proposed new free trade agreements (a) she plans to have in place and (b) are planned to be subject to ongoing negotiations by February 2024.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: Building on the success of the United Kingdom’s recent Agreement in Principle with Australia and the European Economic Area (EEA-EFTA), HM Government will continue to pursue deals with New Zealand and the US. HM Government is progressing plans to accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) also, and recently launched public consultations for free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with India, Canada and Mexico. We have always been clear that negotiating comprehensive and ambitious FTAs that deliver jobs and growth for the whole of the United Kingdom is more important than meeting any particular deadline.

Trade Advisory Groups

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many applications were made for membership of the Trade Advisory Groups; how many of those applications were rejected; and if she will publish a list of organisations who have applied for a position on a Trade advisory Group.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: Members of Trade Advisory Groups (TAGs) were selected by my Department to make sure that TAGs included representation from across the United Kingdom and from a cross-section of businesses.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Correspondence

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many items of written correspondence from hon. Members sent to Ministers in his Department have been (a) received and (b) replied to since 1 April 2020; and how many of those responses were responded to by (i) Ministers and (ii) officials.

Nigel Adams: The Government recognises the great importance of the effective and timely handling of correspondence.The Cabinet Office is currently compiling data on the timeliness of responses to Hon. and Rt Hon. members from Government Departments and Agencies. This data will be released, and made available to Members, in due course.

Overseas Aid: Marine Environment

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed reduction in Official Development Assistance on the UK’s role in tackling global marine plastic pollution.

James Duddridge: The huge impact of the pandemic on the UK economy has forced us to take tough but necessary decisions, including temporarily reducing the overall amount we spend on aid to 0.5% of GNI. We will remain a world-leading development donor and are on track to spend more than £10 billion this year to fight poverty, tackle climate change and improve global health.Following a thorough review, the Foreign Secretary has allocated FCDO's ODA in accordance with UK strategic priorities, focusing our investment and expertise where the UK can make the most difference and achieve maximum strategic coherence, impact, and value for money.Research estimates that between 5 and 13 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean each year and, if action is not taken, the total plastic in the ocean could treble by 2025. Domestically we have taken action, and internationally, the Government is supporting efforts to tackle plastic pollution, by funding innovation and research, and by working with governments, businesses and communities on national and local initiatives.

Ethnic Groups: Human Rights

Marsha De Cordova: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his policies of the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights' report entitled Agenda towards transformative change for racial justice and equality, published on 28 June 2021.

Nigel Adams: The UK is committed to combatting all forms of racism, including antisemitism, both at home and abroad. We believe that one of the most effective ways to tackle injustices and advocate respect among different religious and racial groups is to encourage all states to uphold their human rights obligations. We have received the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and are reviewing it.

Prisoners: Torture

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many cases of alleged torture of British citizens while in overseas custody were raised with his Department in (a) 2019-20 and (b) 2020-21.

Nigel Adams: The number of torture or mistreatment cases reported by British nationals in 2019 and 2020 to the FCDO can be found in the FCDO's Human Rights and Democracy Reports 2019 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/human-rights-and-democracy-report-2019) and 2020 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/human-rights-and-democracy-report-2020). The assistance we can, and cannot, provide to British nationals abroad who face torture or mistreatment is set out in the publication: Support for British nationals abroad: A Guide on GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-for-british-nationals-abroad-a-guide/support-for-british-nationals-abroad-a-guide).

Cameroon: Overseas Aid

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much of the £5.17 million in Official Development Assistance allocated to Cameroon for financial year 2021-22 will be spent on supporting the Interim Agreement establishing an Economic Partnership Agreement between the UK and Cameroon.

James Duddridge: Full budgets per country for 2021-22 and a final audited spend for 2020-21 will be published in due course, including in our regular Statistics on International Development and in the FCDO Annual Report and Accounts.We are supporting Cameroon to take full advantage of the UK-Cameroon Economic Partnership Agreement through the UK Trade Partnerships Programme. The programme will work in partnership with government ministries, producers, trade support institutions and industry associations to improve trade through better use of the UK's development-focussed trade agreements.

Ghana: Overseas Aid

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much of the £10.3 million in Official Development Assistance allocated to Ghana in 2021-22 will be spent on supporting the implementation of the Interim Trade Partnership Agreement between the UK and Ghana.

James Duddridge: Full budgets per country for 2021-22 and a final audited spend for 2020-21 will be published in due course, including in our regular Statistics on International Development and in the FCDO Annual Report and Accounts.We are supporting Ghana to take full advantage of the UK-Ghana Trade Partnership Agreement through the UK Trade Partnerships Programme. The programme will work in partnership with government ministries, producers, trade support institutions and industry associations to improve trade through better use of the UK's development-focussed trade agreements.

Ayrton Fund

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding has been (a) committed and (b) dispersed by his Department under the Ayrton Fund in financial year 2021-22.

James Duddridge: Full budgets per country for 2021-22 and a final audited spend for 2020-21 will be published in due course, including in our regular Statistics on International Development and in the FCDO Annual Report and Accounts.

Afghanistan: Children

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to improve the protection of children’s rights in Afghanistan.

Nigel Adams: The UK has provided £3.3 billion of aid funding since 2002 which has helped improve the rights of all Afghans, including women, children and minority groups. There are now 8.2 million more children in school than in 2001. Youth literacy rates have increased to 65% in 2018 from 47% in 2011. In 2001, most girls were unable to go to school but there are now 3.6 million girls in school. Over the last year, we have engaged with partners on the development and roll out of the national school safety framework to ensure that children can access a safe learning environment. Over the last eight years, the UK has helped over a quarter of a million girls attend school through the Girls' Education Challenge Fund.

Prisoners: Torture

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many and what proportion of cases of alleged torture of British citizens in overseas custody that were brought to his Department's attention were raised by his Department with those detaining authorities in (a) 2019-20 and (b) 2020-21.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to cases of torture of British citizens raised with his Department, how many cases of (a) domestic prosecution, (b) international prosecution and (c) other forms of accountability of foreign officials there were in (i) 2019-20 and (ii) 2020-21; and in how many and what proportion of those cases did his Department intervene.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to cases of British citizens imprisoned overseas and aside from Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, how many of those cases have (a) he and (b) his Ministerial colleagues publicly acknowledged and condemned as torture in the last 20 years; and how many of those acknowledgements were made in (i) Parliament and (ii) the media.

Nigel Adams: We take all allegations of torture and mistreatment very seriously and will follow up with action appropriate to the circumstances of the case. Although we cannot investigate torture or mistreatment allegations, with the individual's permission, we can raise them with the local authorities, demanding an end to the mistreatment, and that the incident is investigated and the perpetrators are brought to justice. We can also advise individuals on other complaint mechanisms open to them where these exist and are believed to be effective, and encourage them to seek legal advice as appropriate. The assistance we can, and cannot, provide to British nationals abroad is set out in the publication: Support for British nationals abroad: A Guide on GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-for-british-nationals-abroad-a-guide/support-for-british-nationals-abroad-a-guide). This also sets out who we can help, and that the level and type of assistance we offer is tailored to the individual circumstances of each case and local conditions.

Westminster Foundation for Democracy: Finance

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2021 to Question 23297 on Westminster Foundation for Democracy: Finance, whether a budget for the Westminster Foundation for Democracy in 2021-22 has been shared with that organisation.

Nigel Adams: I can confirm that a budget for Financial Year 2021-2022 has been shared with Westminster Foundation for Democracy.

Zimbabwe: Water Supply

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the access to clean and safe water for the citizens of Harare.

James Duddridge: The UK is concerned about the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe which includes a lack of access to clean and safe water for Zimbabweans. Out of an estimated daily demand of 800 mega litres, the City of Harare produces approximately 500 mega litres. We are also worried about the vast leakages in the water system due to old and ill-maintained infrastructure, and the diminishing water quality.Through a multi-donor trust fund called ZIMFUND, the UK has, since 2010, supported the rehabilitation of water supply infrastructure to improve waste water treatment capacity and water supply to some areas. Through UNICEF we are supporting the City of Harare with repairing water infrastructures and boreholes in cholera prone areas. In early 2020, the UK adapted existing programmes to support Zimbabwe's Covid-19 response which included access to clean and safe water for Zimbabweans. The UK also allocated £5 million to UNICEF for cholera prevention and emergency response.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Recycling

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his policy is on his Department's rates of recycling of plastic, paper, metal and other products; and if he will make a statement.

James Duddridge: We are committed to improving the environmental sustainability of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's operations, in line with the Greening Government Commitments, we aim to reduce the amount of waste we produce and increase the proportion of waste we recycle. The most recent published information relating to our commitments to waste and recycling can both be found on the gov.uk website in the FCO Sustainability Report 2019/20 (beginning on page 14) and in the DFID Annual Report and Accounts 2019/20, beginning on page 74.

Climate Change: Females

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the link between universal access to (a) sexual and reproductive health and rights, (b) family planning and (c) girls’ education and climate change.

Wendy Morton: The global climate crisis is a major threat to girls' education, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender equality. Enabling girls and women to thrive, by providing quality education, health services and protecting their rights, is part of the solution. SRHR, including voluntary family planning, and girls' education have wide-ranging benefits for individuals and societies, including supporting their adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change. Supporting people in their reproductive choices may also have a positive impact on the conservation of nature over the long term, given the role this plays in empowering women and lowering fertility rates. In this context, it is important to note that it is high income countries that have the greatest impact on the biosphere.The UK is a proud defender of SRHR and in 2021 we are supporting the launch of FP2030, the new global partnership to support countries to accelerate progress on voluntary family planning. The UK is also championing the right of all girls to twelve years of quality education so that they have the knowledge and skills to thrive, including leading change to help tackle the climate crisis. The UK is committed to delivering an inclusive COP26 that advances gender equality within climate action and finance.

Overseas Aid: Family Planning and  Genito-urinary Medicine

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the reduction in Official Development Assistance is for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Family Planning programmes for the 2021-22 financial year.

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of the reduction in Official Development Assistance to the Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights and Family Planning budget on women and girls in the global south.

Wendy Morton: The impact of the global pandemic on the economy has forced us to take tough but necessary decisions, including within our global health portfolio. The aid budget has been allocated in accordance with UK strategic priorities against a challenging financial climate. Officials considered any impact on women and girls, the most marginalised and vulnerable, people with disabilities and people from other protected groups when developing advice to Ministers.The Foreign Secretary provided thematic ODA allocations for 2021/22 in a written ministerial statement which included £1,305 million allocated to global health. The FCDO spend by sector is calculated using OECD-DAC sector codes. Details of FCDO spend by sector code for 2021 will be available in the Statistics on International Development publication in Autumn 2022 and details of FCDO spend for 2022 will be available in the Statistics on International Development publication in Autumn 2023. FCDO programme sector codes are available on DevTracker.

Genito-urinary Medicine: Females

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will support women and girls' sexual reproductive health and rights programmes at the forthcoming COP26 conference.

Wendy Morton: The UK Government continues to strongly champion sexual and reproductive health and rights, and we use every opportunity to advocate for these rights on the world stage. As COP26 presidents, we want to see all countries stepping up their commitments to promote gender equality in climate action. The UNFCCC Gender Action Plan is the guiding tool for action on gender-responsive climate policies and finance, and empowering women and girls to be leaders in local and national responses to climate change. Through the COP26 Health Programme the UK is also working alongside our international partners to champion the development of climate resilient health systems, which should encompass the development of resilient sexual and reproductive health services.

Lithuania: Travel

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations (a) he is and (b) officials of his Department are making to counterparts in Lithuania on allowing British travellers arriving in Lithuania who have received the AstraZeneca/Oxford covid-19 vaccines sourced from the Serum Institute of India to follow regulations in Lithuania in-line with people who are fully vaccinated with other approved covid-19 vaccines.

Wendy Morton: The Government is in close touch with partners across Europe, including Lithuania, on the issue of EMA approval of the 5 million doses of AstraZeneca that were manufactured under license by the Serum Institute of India for use in the UK. Officials are currently in discussions with Lithuanian counterparts to confirm that Lithuanian authorities will regard those vaccinated in the UK with these doses as vaccinated for the purposes of entry to Lithuania. The Government stands ready to share further details of the MHRA's approval of this particular batch should it be required.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Prime Minister's commitment in February 2021 to donate surplus covid-19 vaccines, how many doses have been donated by the UK to date.

Wendy Morton: Our G7 Presidency in June championed equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics, confirming that the UK will share 100 million doses within the next year. 30 million of these will be shared by the end of 2021, with 5 million by the end of September.

UN Climate Change Conference 2021: Family Planning

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will champion women and girls' sexual and reproductive health and rights at the forthcoming COP26; and if he will make a statement.

Wendy Morton: The UK Government continues to strongly champion sexual and reproductive health and rights, and we use all opportunities to advocate for these rights on the world stage. As COP26 presidents, we want to see all countries stepping up their commitments to promote gender equality in climate action. The UNFCCC Gender Action Plan is the guiding tool for action on gender-responsive climate policies and finance, and empowering women and girls to be leaders in local and national responses to climate change. Through the COP26 Health Programme the UK is also working alongside our international partners to champion the development of climate resilient health systems, which should encompass the development of resilient sexual and reproductive health services.

British Nationals Abroad: Coronavirus

Stephen Farry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the viability of vaccinating UK nationals living overseas, who are ineligible for covid-19 vaccines in their country of residence.

Wendy Morton: There are no plans to roll out the UK's NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme to British nationals living overseas. As a residence-based system, the NHS does not provide healthcare (including vaccinations) outside the UK. Wherever possible, British nationals should aim to be vaccinated in the country where they live. We are closely following other countries' plans to roll out vaccines, and making the case to host governments that national vaccination programmes should cover resident British nationals.We are providing information through the Travel Advice pages and 'Living In' guides on gov.uk to inform British nationals of healthcare options available to them, including on the availability of COVID-19 vaccines. The UK is also playing a leading international role to ensure global access to COVID-19 vaccines. For example, we have contributed £548 million to the COVAX Advance Market Commitment to ensure that the 92 most vulnerable economies have access to COVID-19 vaccines. The UK has also committed to sharing 100 million vaccine doses by June 2022, with the majority going to COVAX.

Water Supply: Finance

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many water pumps and wells overseas has the Government funded in each of the last 5 years.

Wendy Morton: UK Aid funded programmes in the water supply sector report the number of people reached with improved water supply or sanitation and provide financial reports, they do not report on the number of wells or pumps needed to provide those water services. Between 2015 and 2020 the UK supported 62.6 million people to gain access to basic water supply or sanitation services.  Yearly UK bilateral ODA spend on Water Supply and Sanitation can be found in the respective annual Statistics on International Development publications: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-on-international-development

Ministry of Defence

Nuclear Weapons: Testing

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on legal fees in relation to British nuclear test litigation to date.

Leo Docherty: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Ministry of Defence: Security

Florence Eshalomi: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what private companies are currently contracted to provide security services at his Department’s buildings that contain Ministerial private offices; and whether there are closed circuit television cameras in any Ministerial private office within his Departmental estate.

Jeremy Quin: Security equipment installed and maintained at MOD Main Building which contains Ministerial private offices is provided through PFI contractor MODUS. Operation of the security equipment at MOD Main Building is not carried out by external companies. There are no closed-circuit television cameras in any Ministerial private office.

Royal Yacht: Procurement

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the procurement process he has launched for the (a) design and (b) construction of the UK’s national flagship is covered by the warships exception set out in Item 47 of Annex 4 of the coverage schedules certified as part of the UK’s accession to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement.

Mr Ben Wallace: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Royal Yacht: Procurement

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the procurement process he has launched for the (a) design and (b) construction of the UK’s national flagship is covered by the security exception set out in Article III of the WTO Government Procurement Agreement.

Mr Ben Wallace: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Royal Yacht: Procurement

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 16 June to Question 10178 on Royal Yacht: Procurement, whether the procurement framework for the new national flagship will provide for its construction using British steel.

Mr Ben Wallace: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Navy: Guided Weapons

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the level of need for a surface to surface guided weapon system for the Royal Navy.

Jeremy Quin: We continue to scope options for maintaining a surface-to-surface guided weapon system alongside wider lethality requirements as part of our work to deliver on the recent Integrated Review.

Ministry of Defence: Theft

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the items stolen from his Department's sites with a value over £500 in the last 12 months.

Jeremy Quin: The Ministry of Defence works hard to detect and deter theft and there are robust processes in place to raise awareness of the need for vigilance in all aspects of security. A Confidential Hotline is the central reporting point for all fraud, theft, suspected theft and financial irregularity. The information requested concerning stolen items over £500, will take time to collate and I will write to the hon. Member.

Nimrod Aircraft: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost to the public purse was of the Nimrod MRA4 programme prior to its cancellation.

Jeremy Quin: The cancellation of the Nimrod MRA4 programme was announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review, published in October 2010. Its total cost as at 31 December 2010 was approximately £3.9 billion.

Guided Weapons: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which platform his Department plans to use for the Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon.

Jeremy Quin: The planning assumption for the Future Cruise/Anti-ship Weapon is that it will be operated from both the T26 Frigate and Typhoon aircraft.

Guided Weapons: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost has been to the public purse to date of the Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon programme.

Jeremy Quin: The total spend to date on Future Cruise/ Anti-Ship Weapon and associated activities by the Ministry of Defence is £95 million.

Ministry of Defence: Animals

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many animals of each species in the service of his Department were euthanised in the last 12 months.

Jeremy Quin: I have taken the hon. Member's question as relating to numbers of Service animals euthanised. No military mascots of any species were euthanised in the last 12 months. For Military Working Dogs and Horses, I refer the hon. Member to my answers given on 6 July 2021 to Questions 24112 and 24113.Military Working Horses (docx, 16.3KB)

Guided Weapons: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made on the development of the Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon.

Jeremy Quin: The Future Cruise/ Anti-Ship Weapon Programme is due to complete Concept Phase activity in July 2021. The Concept Phase has been focussed on conducting in depth operational analysis, technical studies and initial design activity to refine user requirements and better understand the options available to MOD to meet these. The Concept Phase findings forms part of the Programme's Outline Business Case for Ministerial consideration.

Guided Weapons: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the planned service date for the Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon.

Jeremy Quin: The Planning Assumption for Service Entry for Future Cruise /Anti-Ship Weapon on the T26 Frigate and Typhoon aircraft is 2028 and 2030 respectively.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of applicants to (a) the British Army, (b) the Royal Navy and (c) the Royal Air Force were rejected in each of the last five years.

Leo Docherty: The information requested to answer the hon. Member's question will take time to collate, and I will write to him in due course.

Shipbuilding

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timeframe is for the publication of the National Shipbuilding Strategy.

Jeremy Quin: The National Shipbuilding Strategy refresh will be published later this year.

Cobham: Sales

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the sale of assets previously held by Cobham to US businesses on employment in the UK defence sector.

Jeremy Quin: The acquisition of Cobham, a UK Aerospace and Defence company, by Advent International, in late 2019 was subject to a formal HMG review of the national security issues using powers under the Enterprise Act 2002. In line with the undertakings, Advent engaged with MOD officials on its plans to sell on various UK-based business units. In addition, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has engaged with the buyers of UK parts of the former Cobham Group to ensure that the safety of jobs and investment in the UK remain a priority. We are content that under their new owners they will continue to provide the goods and services that our Armed Forces require and that UK jobs and investment will be safeguarded.

Advent International: Sales

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department received notice from Advent on the sale of (a) Axell Wireless, (b) Cobham Aerospace Connectivity and (c) Cobham Mission Systems prior to their sale.

Jeremy Quin: Yes, the Ministry of Defence was given advance notice of all these sales.

Ministry of Defence: Disclosure of Information

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral contribution of the Defence Procurement Minister of 28 June 2021, Official Report, column 21, when will the investigation into the leak of Ministry of Defence documents be concluded; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Quin: The investigation has not yet concluded.

Veterans: Identity Cards

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to introduce the Veterans ID card.

Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has to accelerate the verification process to enable eligible personnel to receive a Veterans' ID card.

Leo Docherty: A veteran does not require a recognition or ID card to prove their status and access veteran related services or discounts. There are a number of ways that Service can be verified, and the lack of a recognition or ID card should not act as a barrier. The Government remains committed to developing an online digital verification tool, which will make it as easy as possible for veterans to verify their Service. We are working with colleagues across Government to find a solution that is secure and easy to use. A delivery date will be confirmed in due course, along with details of the next phase of the Veterans’ ID card roll-out. Closer to the launch date, information will be released at the following website: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-veterans-id-cards-rolled-out-to-service-leavers

Military Alliances: Atlantic Ocean

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the extent to which the Joint Expeditionary Force assists in improving stability and security in the (a) North Atlantic, (b) Baltic Sea Region and (c) High North.

James Heappey: Defence Ministers from the ten members of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) met in Helsinki on 30 June to 1 July 2021, signing new Political Direction which sets the strategic policy and political context in which the with which the JEF operates. As befits its membership, the principal geographic area of interest for the JEF is the High North, North Atlantic and Baltic Sea region (although it is also able to operate further afield, if required). The JEF is configured to make a key contribution to security challenges in the region by providing credible options for responding rapidly to crises and being able to operate persistently across all domains below the threshold of conflict; either in its own right or in support of other multinational organisations, such as NATO.

Scottish Police College: Official Visits

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the News release of 1 July 2021 by Police Scotland entitled Royal College of Defence Studies makes visit to SPC Tulliallan, which 22 countries comprised the delegation from the Royal College of Defence Studies that visited the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan on 30 June 2021.

James Heappey: The RCDS course member visit to the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan on 30 June 2021 comprised delegates from the following 21 nations; Afghanistan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Botswana, Chile, India, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Pakistan, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Spain, the UAE, the UK, and the USA.

Saudi Arabia: Military Aid

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 5 July 2021 to Question 24336 on Saudi Arabia: Military Aid, how many UK personnel are deployed to Saudi Arabia with those air defence units.

James Heappey: For operational and personal security reasons I cannot disclose the number of those deployed.

Ministry of Defence: Official Cars

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many cars there are in his Department's fleet; and how many of those cars are (a) electric and (b) hybrid vehicles.

Jeremy Quin: The Ministry of Defence no longer purchases commercial, non-combat motor vehicles but leases them through a Fleet Management Service contract known as Phoenix II. The number of cars under the contract in each category is detailed in the table below (figures correct as at 07 June 21). These leases are competitively tendered to ensure that Defence receives value for money. The MOD is committed to meeting Government targets for zero emission cars and is developing its infrastructure to support a significant increase in electric vehicles which will roll out in coming years. To avoid paying early lease termination fees, the MOD uses milestone adjustments during contract term to transition from internal combustion engine vehicles to both electric and hybrid vehicles. Vehicle Type Internal Combustion Engine7,066Electric225Hybrid411TOTAL7,702

Department for Work and Pensions

Family Resources Survey

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will include whether a surveyed family has no recourse to public funds in the Family Resources Survey when the sample size is expanded in 2022; and if she will make a statement.

Will Quince: The Department is currently considering the questionnaire for next year’s Family Resources Survey, April 2022 to March 2023.

Sick Pay

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will launch a review into statutory sick pay to assess the adequacy of the level of that payment in meeting the costs of living.

Justin Tomlinson: This government has a strong safety net that helps people who are facing hardship and are unable to support themselves financially and we have taken steps to strengthen that safety net as part of the government’s response to the pandemic. Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) provides a minimum level of income for employees when they are sick or incapable of work. Employers are legally required to pay SSP to eligible employees who are off work sick or incapable of work, where employees meet the qualifying conditions. Some employers may also decide to pay more, and for longer, through Occupational Sick Pay. SSP is just one part of our welfare safety net and our wider government offer to support people in times of need. Where an individual’s income is reduced while off work sick and they require further financial support, they may be able to claim Universal Credit and new style Employment and Support Allowance, depending on their personal circumstances.

Personal Independence Payment

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many personal independent payment cases have been suspended by her Department in the last 12 months as a result of claimants being in hospital for more than 28 days.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Social Security Benefits: EU Nationals

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has issued guidance to the Department of Work and Pensions on welfare benefit entitlement for individuals who have missed the EU Settlement Scheme application deadline of 30 June 2021.

Justin Tomlinson: Access to benefits for non-UK nationals depends on their immigration status. EEA and Swiss nationals, and their family members, resident in the UK at the end of the transition period need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to maintain entitlement to taxpayer funded benefits. Those currently receiving benefits will not see their payments stop automatically from 1 July. However, it is important that anyone eligible who hasn’t applied to the EUSS does so quickly to ensure that benefit payments don’t stop. Further information can be found here - https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2020/07/02/media-factsheet-eu-settlement-scheme/ We are working with the Home Office and HM Revenue and Customs to identify existing benefit claimants who have yet to apply for status under the EUSS. Letters had been issued to encourage existing benefit recipients to apply to the EUSS to protect their existing rights in the UK before the deadline. The Home Office will shortly be writing to benefit recipients who have still not applied for a status, giving a further 28 days to apply, after which the department will be notified of those recipients who have still not applied. Detailed guidance will be issued through our Advice to Decision Makers in due course - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/advice-for-decision-making-staff-guide

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average time taken is to send a copy of the assessor's report and initial decision to claimants following an assessment for (a) employment support allowance, (b) universal credit and (c) personal independence payment.

Justin Tomlinson: We don’t routinely send a copy of the AP report to a customer, instead we send a decision letter advising whether the customer will receive PIP, which components and at which rate. According to published Official Statistics for PIP, the time between the AP reporting to DWP and the DWP decision can vary during the year due to demand, but currently it takes on average 2 weeks for a new claims customer to receive a decision after assessment and on average 3 weeks for a re-assessment decision (median values in April 2021). There may be a delay between the assessment being carried out and the AP reporting to DWP, but the actual assessment date is not collected on DWP analytical data sets. If a customer does wish to receive a copy of their AP report then they can do so by contacting the DWP and requesting this. Data on the average time between return of the Assessment Provider’s recommendation to DWP and the date of the DWP decision is published in table 2A (column F) of the following published statistical tables:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/993434/tables-pip-statistics-to-april-2021.xlsx Statistics on Employment and Support Allowance Work Capability Assessments outcomes are published quarterly here:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/employment-and-support-allowance-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessment Statistics on Work Capability Assessments for Universal Credit are currently under development for future publication and have not previously been published as official statistics. We will issue them in due course as an official statistics release in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. Whilst the initial statistics will not have median clearance times these will be developed for publication in due course.

Social Security Benefits: Disability

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will consult with groups representing disabled people on the implementation of Government reforms to improve the experience of disabled people of the assessment process for disability benefits.

Justin Tomlinson: It is vital that the voices of disabled people are at the centre of health and disability policy development. Over the past 18 months I have personally led a series of events in which I have heard from disabled people and their representatives about their lived experiences with the benefits system, including the assessment process. The forthcoming Health and Disability Green Paper will reflect themes coming out of those conversations and ask for views on how best to address them. We will continue our direct engagement with disabled people and groups representing them, up to and following the publication of the Health and Disability Green Paper.

Kickstart Scheme and Restart Scheme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will extend eligibility for the Kickstart and Restart schemes to people in receipt of employment support allowance; and if she will make a statement.

Mims Davies: There are currently no plans to extend the eligibility criteria of the Kickstart Scheme or the Restart Scheme. Employment Support Allowance claimants who require more intensive employment support would have access to both the Work and Health Programme (WHP) and Intensive Personalised Employment Support (IPES) and can volunteer for this support at any time irrespective of benefit claimed or no benefit. The WHP predominantly helps people with a wide range of disabilities and health conditions to enter into and stay in work, and is suited to those who expect to find work within 12 months. IPES is an intensive, highly personalised voluntary support package that is flexible to participants’ needs. It supports disabled people with complex barriers to work who would be more than 12 months from the labour market without the benefit of IPES support.

Restart Scheme: Wales

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she had with the Welsh Government on the process of selecting a provider to deliver the Restart Scheme in Wales.

Mims Davies: Providers on DWP’s Commercial Agreement for Employment and Health Related Services framework were invited to bid to deliver the Restart Scheme in Contract Package Areas across England and Wales. We conducted a fair and transparent call off exercise to secure the delivery of the Restart Scheme. Bidders were required to show how they proposed to tailor their offer to local labour market conditions, including their plans for close working with employers, local government and other service providers to identify skills gaps and growth sectors and complement the wider landscape of support. A Stakeholder Engagement and Local Integration question which was locally tailored to the specific nuances of the individual Contract Package Area was developed in conjunction with local partners. As part of the selection process the responses for Wales were evaluated by Welsh Regional Engagement Teams from Welsh Local Authorities to ensure local expertise was incorporated into the evaluation. DWP officials have continued to meet with Welsh Government officials to provide updates on the Restart Scheme.

Kickstart Scheme

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Kickstart scheme jobs have been (a) approved and (b) started in each (i) nation and (ii) region of the UK.

Mims Davies: As of the 30th June there were over 243,000 jobs approved for funding by the Kickstart Scheme. We are unable at present to provide data on the number of approved jobs by region, as at that stage in the process we do not hold information about the exact location of a job, only the head office of the employer. Over 145,000 jobs have been made available for young people to apply for and over 40,000 young people have started Kickstart jobs. The table below shows the number of Kickstart jobs which have been offered and started by young people to date by geographical area of Great Britain. The figures used are correct as of the 30th June and these figures have been rounded according to departmental standards. Although care is taken when processing and analysing Kickstart applications, referrals and starts, the data collected might be subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system, which has been developed quickly. The management information presented here has not been subjected to the usual standard of quality assurance associated with official statistics, but is provided in the interests of transparency. Work is ongoing to improve the quality of information available for the programme. LocationJobs AdvertisedTotal Jobs StartedEast Midlands9,7102,380East of England11,4102,890London28,1608,880North East5,6801,910North West18,5705,170Scotland10,5603,560South East16,8504,480South West10,8002,770Wales8,2002,120West Midlands13,6803,590Yorkshire and The Humber11,3603,070*These numbers are rounded and so may not match provided totals. Jobs Advertised include 1,000 non-grant funded vacancies and around 900 starts to non-grant funded jobs

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Marine Protected Areas: British Overseas Territories

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much and what proportion of the terrestrial and marine area of each of the UK Overseas Territories is in legally designated protected areas.

Rebecca Pow: Information on the extent of marine and terrestrial protected areas for the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) by region has been published on gov.uk for the first time, as part of the recent 25 Year Environment Plan Outcome Indicator Framework update. This can be accessed at Outcome Indicator Framework for the 25 Year Environment Plan: 2021 Update. (pages 157-160). This shows that 63% of the marine environment and 4.7% of the terrestrial environment in the UKOTs is now protected. These statistics focus on spatially defined, formally designated measures for biodiversity conservation. In addition to protected areas, it includes other effective conservation measures where these are considered to deliver biodiversity conservation outcomes by virtue of a long-term management regime. Decisions on which sites to include in the indicator were made by the UK Overseas Territories, in line with their responsibilities for the environment. This indicator will continue to be updated to reflect future changes to protected areas such as the recent designation of the Tristan da Cunha Marine Protection Zone.

Biodiverse Landscapes Fund

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much (a) has already been allocated from the UK Biodiverse Landscapes Fund 2021-26 and (b) he plans to allocate from that fund in each year; and what his timetable is for opening applications for that funding.

Rebecca Pow: Defra’s £100m Biodiverse Landscapes Fund, announced by the Prime Minister at the UN General Assembly in September 2019, is an ambitious programme that will deliver poverty reduction, conservation and climate outcomes across six biologically diverse, transboundary landscapes worldwide. This financial year the level of spend is small as this is a preparatory stage with work continuing on the design and mobilisation of the Fund, including through a programme scoping exercise and the procurement of key contractors to support the management of the Fund. Allocation in the following financial years will be largely determined by the programme scoping exercise and the selection process for funding applications. Bids will be invited from prospective delivery partners through an open, competitive process, which will commence early in 2022.

Home Office

Counter-terrorism: Databases

Sarah Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 28 June 2021 to Question 20545 on Counter-terrorism: Databases, for what reason her Department does not control that counterterrorism database; and what assessment she has made of the potential effect of that database being owned by the Police on the Government's ability to regulate that information.

Kevin Foster: Prevent is a multi-agency programme, which requires the collaboration of multiple specified authorities. Alongside other partners, the police play an essential role in most aspects of Prevent work.Police have responsibility for part of the delivery of Prevent, including receipt of referrals, deconfliction to check the individual referred is not already under investigation, and assessment of vulnerability to radicalisation. It is entirely appropriate for police to hold such data, which is managed in accordance with Management of Police Information (MOPI) guidelines.The Home Office maintains oversight of Prevent delivery and uses data to identify trends and monitor performance. This involves working closely with a range of front-line partners, including the police, alongside Local Authority Prevent Co-ordinators, Health and Education Prevent leads, and policy leads from other government departments where appropriate.

Counter-terrorism: Equality

Sarah Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 28 June 2021 to Question 21344 on Counter-terrorism: Equality, if she will publish (a) details of what Equality Impact Analyses have been conducted on the Prevent strategy and (b) the reports of those analyses.

Kevin Foster: We have no plans to publish any EIAs pertaining to Prevent.

Motor Vehicles: Recovery Orders

Sir Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the validity of recovery industry reports that police authorities are imposing fees of up to £50 plus VAT on recovery operators through statutory fees; and if she will make a statement.

Sir Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much of the statutory fees for recovery operations is allocated to (a) Highways England, (b) police forces, (c) management agencies and (d) recovery operators who carry out that work; and if she will make a statement.

Sir Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much money has been raised from statutory fees to contribute to police funding in each year since the last Government review in 2008.

Sir Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the additional costs associated with the roadside removal and storage of electric vehicles compared to ICE vehicles; and if she will make a statement.

Sir Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times police forces have used their statutory powers to require a recovery of a vehicle in each of the last three years for which data is available.

Kit Malthouse: No assessment has been made of the validity of recovery industry reports that police authorities are imposing fees on recovery operators nor of the additional costs associated with the roadside removal and storage of electric vehicles compared to ICE vehicles. Data on the volume of vehicles recovered and how much revenue is accrued or allocated in vehicle recovery fees is not routinely collected by the Home Office. The Home Office is currently running a consultation to assess the current statutory fees and whether new levels of charges should be applied to the removal, storage and disposal of vehicles in England and Wales. These charges will apply where the police have cause to remove or recover a vehicle in particular sets of circumstances. This consultation does not cover the way in which the police use their powers to order vehicle removal, or the operation of recovery schemes and contracts. These are matters between the police and individual recovery operators.

Migrants: Coronavirus

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the end of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme in September on the number of destitution change of conditions applications received by her department.

Chris Philp: The Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is currently extended until 30 September 2021. Whilst it is not necessarily an automatic consequence that change of conditions applications will increase at the end of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Home Office will respond as appropriate if this is the case, adjusting operational resources as necessary.Many applicants impacted by the coronavirus will already have been granted recourse to public funds and the expectation is that as restrictions lift those on furlough should be able to return to work.

Dangerous Driving

Nicola Richards: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of current legislation at tackling illegal racing of motor vehicles on streets; and if she will undertake a review into how legislation can be strengthened to tackle that illegal practice.

Kit Malthouse: We believe there are sufficient powers to address the racing of motor vehicles on streets. It is for local authorities, forces and agencies to decide how best to use these powers depending on the specific circumstances as they are best placed to understand what is causing the behaviour in question, the impact that it is having, and to determine the most appropriate response.

Asylum: LGBT People

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to address the specific experiences and needs of LGBTQ+ asylum seekers and to ensure that LGBTQ+ asylum seekers are not penalised in their asylum applications in the event that they do not reveal their sexual orientation or gender identity immediately upon arrival.

Chris Philp: The Home Office has and continues to work closely with a diverse range of organisations specialising in asylum and human rights protection to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people (LGBTQ+) communities, not only to facilitate the development of bespoke guidance and training products but also to further our work for LGBTQ+ within our asylum system. We ensure that LGBTQ+ asylum seekers are signposted to relevant NGOs specialising in the support of these individuals. This is done through an information leaflet given to all asylum claimants at the point of claim which includes sections on legal advice, additional help and assistance with links to relevant legal bodies and support organisations. LGBTQ+ asylum seekers can also access support from Rainbow Migration (formerly the UK Lesbian & Gay Immigration Group), who provide both practical and emotional support for LGBTQ+ people including how to help improve their confidence and self-esteem and to reduce isolation. The Home Office recognises that discussing persecution may often be distressing and those seeking asylum are given every opportunity to disclose information relevant to their claim before a decision is taken. Our caseworkers are very mindful that many asylum seekers come from cultures which shun any open expression or discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity. We recognise that the intimate nature of disclosure set against the individual’s cultural background may have made it difficult for some to disclose and discuss their sexuality or gender identity with officials at a port of entry. Where it appears that a claimant has been in the UK for a prolonged period of time before either coming to immigration attention or voluntarily seeking protection, this will be explored with the claimant. Consideration will be given to any explanation offered for not seeking protection at the first available opportunity, or for not disclosing the issue of sexuality or gender identity as a claim basis at the first available opportunity. Adverse inference however will not solely be drawn from someone not having immediately identified their sexual or gender identity as a basis to their claim.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to support local authorities to assist additional families with no recourse to public funds once the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme ends in September; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Philp: Throughout the pandemic we have provided councils with unprecedented support, including a package of over £12 billion for local authorities in England and additional funding to the Devolved Administrations. In closing the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Self Employment Income Support Scheme at the end of September, the Government is maintaining its focus on helping people back into work. Migrants who do not return to work because they have lost their employment will need to check the conditions attached to their leave. Where their immigration status is linked to a particular job, they may need to make a further application if they wish to remain in the UK. Statutory sick pay and some other contribution-based benefits, such as contributory employment support allowance, are not classed as public funds and are available to all who are eligible and unable to work. Migrants with leave under the Family and Human Rights routes can apply to have their No Recourse to Public Funds condition lifted by making a ‘change of conditions’ application if they are destitute or at risk of destitution, or if the welfare of their child is at risk due to their low income.

Migrants

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to (a) raise awareness and (b) improve the accessibility of the Destitution Change of Conditions application process.

Chris Philp: We engage regularly with external stakeholders through our No Recourse to Public Funds forum, seeking feedback to help improve our services. The Destitution Change of Conditions application form is being reviewed to see if improvements can be made, and any additional feedback is welcomed.

Hate Crime

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking in advance of the publication of the Law Commission's final report in respect of its Hate Crime review, due to be published in 2021.

Victoria Atkins: In 2018, the Government also asked the Law Commission to undertake a review of current hate crime legislation, including whether additional protected characteristics, such as sex, gender and age, should be included.The Law Commission is due to publish its recommendations later this year, following which the Government will formally respond.

Domestic Abuse: Prosecutions

Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 1 July 2021 to Question 23064 on Domestic Abuse: Prosecutions and with reference to Table 3 in that Answer, how many crimes there were that were flagged as domestic abuse where the prosecution time limit had expired in (a) 2018-19 and (b) 2019-20.

Victoria Atkins: I refer the Honourable Member for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford to the answer given in response to PQ 23064.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will publish guidance on welfare benefit entitlement for EU nationals who have not made an application under the EU Settlement Scheme by the deadline of 30 June 2021.

Kevin Foster: As with citizens of countries elsewhere in the world, EEA citizens who missed the 30 June deadline to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, and do not have any other form of immigration leave, no longer have their rights protected, including access to benefits.However, a person granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme on the basis of a late application will have the same rights from the date they are granted status, as a person who applied by the deadline.The Home Office has already published guidance on late applications to the EU Settlement Scheme at EU Settlement Scheme: EU, other EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members | Horizon.The Home Office is working closely with DWP and HMRC to ensure all those eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme apply, including contacting people to encourage them to do so. We will also expediate outstanding applications to the EUSS, including late applications where there are compelling or compassionate grounds for doing so.

Entry Clearances and Visas: Coronavirus

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how often guidance is updated for UK Visas and Immigration staff and Border Force officials who are deliberating on visa applications, temporary extensions and entry clearance for cases involving or impacted by covid-19 travel restrictions; when the last update to that guidance was; and if she will make a statement.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office produces a full range of Covid-19 concessions guidance relating to applications for visas, permission to stay, or an ‘exceptional assurance’ when applicants are unable to travel. These are often specific to individual immigration routes and are regularly reviewed and updated.Our public facing guidance on GOV.UK for those who find themselves unable to travel back home as a result of the pandemic was updated 1 July.

Slavery: Children

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate he has made of the number of children and young people engaged in county lines who are being subjected to (a) child sexual exploitation and (b) other forms of modern slavery.

Victoria Atkins: The Government recognises the devastating impact of county lines activity on children and vulnerable people. We are determined to disrupt the ruthless gangs responsible for this harm and put an end to exploitation.The Government does not publish a breakdown of county lines referrals to the National Referral Mechanism by exploitation type. Data on the number of county lines referrals by age group and gender are provided in Table 27 of the data tables, found here: Modern Slavery: National Referral Mechanism and Duty to Notify statistics UK, Quarter 1 2021 – January to March - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)We have committed to improve data collection in the recently published Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Strategy. The Strategy, which sets out our long-term ambition to tackle all forms of child sexual abuse, outlines our commitment to improving collection and analysis of data on child sexual exploitation and the links to other forms of exploitation such as county lines. This will enable a more joined up and coherent approach to tackling county lines, group based child sexual exploitation, and modern slavery.

Forced Labour: Malaysia

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the Newcastle University study on forced labour in the Malaysian medical glove industry, published on 1 July 2021.

Victoria Atkins: The Government is committed to working with public and private sector organisations to address the risks of modern slavery in supply chains. It welcomes research on these issues and is carefully considering the findings from the Newcastle University study. The research itself was supported by the Modern Slavery Policy and Evidence Centre, a centre funded by the Government specifically to transform the evidence base underpinning our policy and operational response to modern slavery.Government is harnessing its spending power to ensure exploitative businesses do not take a share of the £81 billion that central government spends on goods and services each year. On 26 March 2020, we became the first country to publish a Government Modern Slavery Statement setting out the steps we have taken to prevent modern slavery and incentivise responsible business conduct in our supply chains. We have launched the Modern Slavery Assessment Tool and directly worked with over 500 suppliers on implementing effective modern slavery due diligence. More than 1,800 organisations have completed the assessment since March 2019.The Home Office also works across Government to develop best-practice to prevent modern slavery in public sector procurement. With support from DHSC and NHS Supply Chain, the Home Office commissioned the ethical trade consultancy, Impactt, to develop tailored guidance for buyers and suppliers of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) on best practice to prevent modern slavery in supply chains. As part of this project, Impactt delivered training workshops with PPE manufacturers and resellers to support them in implementing the guidance. In addition, the Government has recently launched e-learning to support public sector commercial staff to better identify and mitigate modern slavery risks in contracts.

Places of Worship Security Funding Scheme

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to promote the Places of Worship protective security funding scheme to eligible institutions.

Victoria Atkins: The Places of Worship Protective Security Funding Scheme is a key commitment in the Government Hate Crime Action Plan. The sixth year of the scheme opened on 4th June 2021 with a record level amount of funding- £3.5 million.Officials are engaging heavily with faith networks, representative groups including the Independent Advisory Panel consisting of Christian, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh representatives, as well as the police to ensure there is positive uptake of the scheme.The scheme has been promoted through the media, online engagement events, leaflets and a short video circulated to faith stakeholders.The application window has been extended by 2 weeks to the 16th July to enable additional Places of Worship to apply, and further online engagement events will be organised in this period to promote the scheme.

Overseas Visitors: EEA Nationals

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the maximum duration is that (a) EU, (b) EEA and (c) Swiss citizens can stay within the UK without a visa over a 365 day period.

Kevin Foster: EU, EEA and Swiss nationals are non-visa nationals. This means that they can visit the UK as a Standard visitor without needing to apply for a visa in advance of travel and can seek entry at the UK border. Standard Visitors are able to stay in the UK for up to six months.There is no specified maximum period which an individual can spend in the UK in any period such as ‘6 months in 12 months’ (as long as each visit does not exceed the maximum period for the visit, which is normally 6 months). However, each case is assessed on its individual merits and visitors may be refused entry if it is clear from their travel history they are seeking to remain in the UK for extended periods or making the UK their home via repeated visits.

Visas: Hong Kong

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the number of former Apple Daily journalists in Hong Kong who qualify for the UK BNO visa scheme.

Kevin Foster: We have made no such assessment. The Government’s estimate of the number of British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) status holders and their eligible dependants who may migrate to the UK was set out in an impact assessment published on 22 October 2020.The impact assessment can be found here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2020/70/pdfs/ukia_20200070_en.pdf

Migrants

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to applications for change of conditions for leave to remain as a result of imminent risk of destitution, how many and what proportion of those applicants have been support by an organisation in each quarter since Q3 2017.

Kevin Foster: The Change of Conditions Application is a free of charge application. There is no formal right to an administrative review of Change of Conditions decisions. However, a form of review was introduced as a pilot for Change of Conditions rejections in February 2020 and is ongoing.The data relating to these reviews is not held centrally and is not currently captured in a publishable form.Other Change of Conditions information is now part of the transparency data which can be found here: Immigration and protection data: Q1 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) relevant data are in tabs CoC_01 to CoC_04.

Migrants

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of the administrative reviews applied for, in cases where Destitution Change of Conditions Applications have been rejected, have succeeded in overturning the rejection in each quarter since the third quarter of 2017.

Kevin Foster: The Change of Conditions Application is a free of charge application. There is no formal right to an administrative review of Change of Conditions decisions. However, a form of review was introduced as a pilot for Change of Conditions rejections in February 2020 and is ongoing.The data relating to these reviews is not held centrally and is not currently captured in a publishable form.Other Change of Conditions information is now part of the transparency data which can be found here: Immigration and protection data: Q1 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) The relevant data are in tabs CoC_01 to CoC_04.

Migrants

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many administrative reviews have been applied for in cases where Destitution Change of Conditions Applications have been rejected, in each quarter since the third quarter of 2017.

Kevin Foster: The Change of Conditions Application is a free of charge application. There is no formal right to an administrative review of Change of Conditions decisions. However, a form of review was introduced as a pilot for Change of Conditions rejections in February 2020 and is ongoing.The data relating to these reviews is not held centrally and is not currently captured in a publishable form.Other Change of Conditions information is now part of the transparency data which can be found here: Immigration and protection data: Q1 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) The relevant data are in tabs CoC_01 to CoC_04.

Drugs: Organised Crime

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2021 to Question 14126 and with reference to the findings of the Dame Carol Black review of drugs: phase one report, what assessment has been made of the effect of county line closures and drugs seized on (a) drug availability or rates of drug use, (b) potency, (c) price and (d) new trends including local recruitment of children and children being missing for longer periods in adaption to police activity and covid-19; what Government national leadership and oversight on the implementation of a public health approaches to youth violence has taken place; how the Department for Education is involved with that oversight; what assessment she has made of the ethical implications of state use of children to be used as a covert human intelligence source as detailed in The Covert Human Intelligence Sources Bill; and whether a Child Rights impact assessment has been undertaken in relation to that proposed policy.

Kit Malthouse: In May 2021, the National County Lines Coordination Centre published the latest County Lines strategic assessment. The assessment found that county lines continue to be at the forefront of drug supply nationally and have evolved in response to environmental changes. The county lines business model remains heavily weighted towards the supply of heroin and crack cocaine. NCLCC’s latest assessment indicates that there has been a reduction in the total number of potentially active deal lines, with numbers reported to have fallen from between 800-1,100 in 2019/20 to 600 in 2020/21. We continue to work with partners to address the underlying drivers of exploitation and ensure support and protection is in place for children exploited through county lines criminality. We have funded specialist support for victims of county lines exploitation to deliver one-to-one support to under 25s and their families in the three largest county lines exporting force areasThis Government is also delivering a range of initiatives to tackle youth violence including investing over £105.5 million in Violence Reduction Units from 2019 to 2022. The Home Office works closely with the Department for Education to tackle youth violence.We will continue to use data on rates of drug use to monitor trends and inform the Government’s approach to addressing drugs and drug harms.The Government acknowledges the strength of feeling on juvenile CHIS, however, we must recognise that some juveniles are involved in serious crimes, as perpetrators and victims. In some circumstances a young person may have unique access to information or intelligence that could play a vital part in preventing or detecting serious offences. Young people are only authorised as CHIS in rare circumstances. Between January 2015 and December 2018, there were only 17 instances where law enforcement bodies deployed those under 18 years old as CHIS, and their participation in criminal conduct is rarer still. The Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Act 2021 includes a commitment on the face of the legislation that young people will only be authorised to undertake criminal conduct in exceptional circumstances.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

New Covent Garden Market: Coronavirus

Marsha De Cordova: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will take steps to extend eligibility to the covid-19 small business grant fund and business rates holiday to tenants of New Covent Garden Flower Market that occupy larger units with a rateable value of £15,000 or more to allow those businesses access to the same support available to tenants with smaller units.

Paul Scully: The Small Business Grants Fund (SBGF), the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund (RHLGF) and the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund (LADGF) have supported many thousands of small businesses through this challenging period.  Between April and September 2020, over £11.68 billion was paid out to 999,735 business premises. I am grateful for the hard work of Local Authorities in delivering this funding. These schemes are now closed, and we are unable to extend the eligibility criteria. Local authorities are responsible for decisions about the award of business rates relief having regard to legislation and guidance. Markets may be eligible for the expanded retail discount if the local authority’s view is that they meet the criteria but there is no rateable value limit for the scheme.

Restart Grant Scheme: Wholesale Trade

Marsha De Cordova: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reason wholesale and supply chain businesses are ineligible for funding under the Restart Grant scheme; and what assessment his Department has made of the impact of that decision on wholesale and supply chain businesses.

Paul Scully: The Restart Grant scheme aimed to support businesses in specific sectors to reopen as coronavirus restrictions eased across the country. One-off grants were given to eligible businesses in the non-essential retail, hospitality, leisure, personal care and accommodation sectors. The Government is committed to continuing to provide financial support via Local Authorities for businesses that are required to close, or which are severely affected by the restrictions put in place to tackle Covid-19 and save lives.

Post Offices

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to maintain the existing number of operating branches in the Post Office network.

Paul Scully: The Government is committed to a UK-wide network of post offices, which is why we have set the national access criteria. These criteria, for instance, require that nationally, ninety per cent (90%) of the UK population are within one mile of the nearest Post Office Branch and that nationally, ninety-nine per cent (99%) of the UK population are within three (3) miles of the nearest Post Office Branch. Whilst the Post Office branch numbers can fluctuate between areas and regions, the Post Office works hard with communities to ensure that service is maintained and this can include solutions such as mobile or other types of outreach services where necessary. In the Government's Spending Review it was announced that we will be investing £227m in the Post Office in 2021/22. This reflects our commitment to the role that post offices play across our communities.

Energy Performance Certificates: Scotland

Dr Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the Scottish Government’s proposed EPC reform for ensure that EPCs are an effective indicator of (a) energy efficiency, (b) heating emissions and (c) cost; and what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies on EPCs in England of that proposed EPC reform.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) currently uses an energy cost based rating to encourage the implementation of energy performance improvements that reduce running costs. We are aware of the Scottish Government’s proposal to increase the number of metrics on the EPC. We have consulted recently on regulatory proposals that would use EPCs to support improvement to homes. In these consultations, we have sought views on what EPC metric or metrics are most aligned with our overall policy goals. This included a cost-based rating (Energy Efficiency Rating) and a carbon-based rating (Environmental Impact Rating) alongside seeking views on other options. Furthermore, we are continuing to deliver the commitments in our EPC Action Plan, published last year, to maximise the effectiveness of EPCs in improving the energy performance of buildings.

Renewable Energy: Finance

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the potentially eligible capacity in the fourth allocation round for Contracts for Difference in (a) Pot 1: established technologies, including onshore wind and solar PV, (b) Pot 2: less-established technologies, including floating offshore wind, advanced conversion technologies and tidal stream and (c) Pot 3: offshore wind.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: In order to be eligible to bid into the round, projects competing in all pots must first have obtained planning permission from the relevant authority and meet eligibility criteria specific to each technology. The Department publishes the quarterly Renewable Energy Planning Database (REPD) which provides information on the potential pipeline for renewable technologies. This includes detail on the estimated capacities of known projects that have already obtained planning permission, and those which are currently in the planning process (although will still need to demonstrate compliance with the eligibility criteria before bidding in to the Contracts for Difference Auction). The latest published REPD can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewable-energy-planning-database-monthly-extract.

Renewable Energy: Finance

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will publish the evidential basis for the proposed 12GW overall capacity cap in the fourth allocation round for Contracts for Difference, scheduled to commence in December 2021.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: As set out in my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s announcement of 6 October 2020, Allocation Round 4 aims to support up to 12GW capacity of renewable electricity, subject to the availability of the pipeline. This is not an overall capacity cap, and we are currently considering auction parameters (including caps) ahead of publishing the Draft Budget Notice.

Renewable Energy: Finance

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to publish the draft budget notice for the fourth allocation round for Contracts for Difference.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: We are currently developing parameters for Allocation Round 4 and will publish these well in advance of the next auction in December 2021.

Renewable Energy: Finance

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy,  how his Department plans to use its ability to set a flexible cap in each pot in the fourth allocation round for Contracts for Difference.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: Applying a capacity cap as a soft constraint might allow us to achieve capacity closer to the Government’s ambitions for the round than is possible with a hard capacity cap. We will publish the parameters for the fourth Contracts for Difference allocation round soon, including decisions on any use of soft capacity caps.

Green Deal Scheme: Appeals

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his planned timeframe is for processing the remaining cases for review under the Green Deal Framework Regulations.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: We are aiming to respond to all remaining Green Deal appeals as soon as possible taking account of the stages in place for the handling of appeals.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Correspondence

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many items of written correspondence from hon. Members sent to Ministers in his Department have been (a) received and (b) replied to since 1 April 2020; and how many of those responses were responded to by (i) Ministers and (ii) officials.

Amanda Solloway: In the period 1 April 2020 to 6 July 2021, 21,594 items of written correspondence from Hon. Members were received by Ministers in the Department. This figure includes 4,415 items that fell outside the Department’s remit and were successfully transferred to the correct department for a response. Of the remaining items, 16,158 were replied to by Ministers and 529 were replied to by officials (and the remainder are still open cases).

Church Commissioners

Churches: Coronavirus

Selaine Saxby: To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Church Commissioners have made of (a) the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on church parishes and (b) the support that dioceses will require to (i) recover and (ii) ease the legal and administrative burdens experienced by those parishes as a result of that outbreak.

Andrew Selous: The Commissioners, in partnership with the Archbishops’ Council, provided £75m of immediate liquidity support and established a £35m Diocesan Sustainability Fund programme, plus a £20m Cathedral Sustainability Fund, following the decline in churches’ and cathedrals’ income from donations and visitors during Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns.The Legislative Reform Committee of the General Synod and the Church Commissioners are consulting on simplifying legal and administrative burdens experienced by parishes. A review of the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011 is currently underway, and a green paper has been published, which will be debated at the General Synod at its July meeting. The green paper forms the basis of a consultation with dioceses, parishes and other stakeholders. The consultation will remain open until 15 September 2021.   The Church Commissioners would welcome the views of all Members and their constituents on the questions set out in the paper, and I am placing a copy in the Library of the House of Commons for reference.The Green Paper and supporting material are also available on the consultation website at: https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/parish-reorganisation-and-church-property/review-mission-and-pastoral-measure-2011

Question

Jim Shannon: To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church has taken to support the covid-19 vaccination programme.

Andrew Selous: Support for the vaccine programme has been provided at the local and regional levels by clergy engaging pastorally in their communities, and the use of cathedrals and larger churches as vaccination centres. As part of the NHS-backed #GiveHope campaign, bishops and church leaders joined together in sharing video messages encouraging communities to seek accurate information on vaccines, hold local conversations, and to encourage one another to take up offers of vaccines: https://www.churchofengland.org/news-and-media/news-and-statements/bishops-and-church-leaders-target-covid-vaccinationThe Church has also been supporting VaccinAid, to encourage those who have been vaccinated to donate to enable other people around the world to have access to vaccines: https://www.churchofengland.org/news-and-media/news-releases/church-england-backs-vaccinaid-campaign-give-world-shot-help-defeat

Northern Ireland Office

Terrorism: Northern Ireland

Simon Hoare: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to his Department's announcement on 29 June of a Framework for Multiparty Talks on Northern Ireland Legacy issues, whether he plans to bring forward proposals for addressing the legacy of Northern Ireland's past before the House rises for summer recess.

Mr Robin Walker: It is clear that the current system for dealing with the legacy of the past is not working for anyone. It is failing to bring satisfactory outcomes for families, placing a heavy burden on the criminal justice system, and leaving society in Northern Ireland hamstrung by its past. This is why the UK Government - along with the Irish Government - has begun a process of intensive engagement with the Northern Ireland parties and all relevant stakeholders and civil society, including victims groups, with a view to making progress on this issue as soon as possible. The UK Government has committed to bringing forward proposals, and to introducing legislation to address the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, as soon as possible.

Northern Ireland Office: Recycling

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what his policy is on his Department's rates of recycling of plastic, paper, metal and other products; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Robin Walker: My Department is based in two leased sites, 1 Horse Guards Road, London and Stormont House, Belfast. As a tenant, we follow the respective recycling policies and services provided by our landlord. They offer shared services under collaborative contracts, which adhere to principles set out in greening for government commitments. For example, using recycling bins for the disposal and recycling of all mixed waste. We also use recycled paper and stationery items manufactured from reusable materials.

Department for Education

Children: Poverty

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate he has made of the number and proportion of children who are (a) eligible for free school meals and (b) living in poverty; and if he will make a statement.

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of children were eligible for free school meals in Enfield North constituency in each of the last five years.

Vicky Ford: The number and proportion of children who are eligible for and claiming free school meals in Enfield North and for England for each of the last 5 years are provided in the attached table. The department does not hold information on the number of pupils living in poverty. 25175_25176_table (xls, 47.0KB)

National Tutoring Programme

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to answer of 29 June 2021 to Question 21978 on National Tutoring Programme, how many and what proportion of the 234,000 pupils enrolled in the National Tutoring Programme are in each local authority.

Nick Gibb: The National Tutoring Programme (NTP) provides additional, targeted support to disadvantaged pupils by providing schools with access to high quality, subsidised tuition from a selection of approved Tuition Partners.Since its launch in November 2020, over 234,000 pupils have enrolled to receive tutoring and, of those enrolled, over 186,000 pupils have already commenced tutoring. The Department does not have information on the split of the 234,000 pupils who have enrolled on the NTP at local authority level.The programme ensures that additional support has been allocated to regions with the largest numbers of disadvantaged pupils and in regions where access to tutoring has been historically lower.The NTP is led by demand by schools, and the Department has undertaken a range of activities with schools to ensure maximum awareness within the sector and to encourage schools to sign up to the programme. We are engaging directly with school leaders, local networks of schools, and national stakeholders to ensure that the NTP reaches as many disadvantaged pupils as possible. We will continue focusing on those areas with the most disadvantaged pupils, and where we would like to see more schools take up the opportunity.Building on the successful first year of the programme, we aim to reach 750,000 disadvantaged pupils during the academic year 2021/22.

Schools: Ventilation

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding his Department has provided to schools to improve classroom ventilation since January 2021.

Nick Gibb: The Department has not provided specific additional funding for schools to improve classroom ventilation since January 2021.The Department provided additional funding to schools, on top of existing budgets, to cover unavoidable costs incurred between March and July 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak that could not be met from their budgets. This funding was targeted towards the costs that we identified as the biggest barrier to schools operating as they needed to. It covered claims for the premises costs of staying open over Easter and summer half term holidays, support for free school meals, and additional cleaning costs.Schools have continued to receive their core funding throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, regardless of any periods of full or partial closure. This financial year marks the second year of the Department’s investment of £14.4 billion in total over the three years to 2022/23, compared to 2019/20. This is the biggest increase in a decade.

Educational Institutions: Coronavirus

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of providing daily lateral flow tests to schools and other education settings to prevent pupils who remain covid-19 negative following a positive covid-19 contact from being required to isolate for 10 days.

Nick Gibb: Between March and June this year, over 200 secondary schools and colleges participated in the independently monitored, voluntary trial of Daily Contact Testing, which was approved by Public Health England’s independent Research and Ethics Governance Group.The aim of the trial was to keep pupils in face-to-face education, whilst reducing the risk of community transmission of COVID-19. The trial consisted of two randomised groups, a control group and an intervention group.The control group quarantined contacts of positive casesThe intervention group enabled daily contact testing of contacts, instead of 10 days isolationThe trial concluded on 25 June 2021, and its findings are expected shortly. The Department has not been informed of the results of the independent trial in order to protect the integrity of the study. The trial’s findings need to be evaluated fully before any decisions can be made by the Government on how Daily Contact Testing may be used in the future.

Apprentices

Mr Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many apprenticeships were created, by region, in the (a) 2017-18, (b) 2018-19 and (c) 2019–20 academic years.

Mr Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many apprenticeships have been created as a result of the government’s apprenticeship incentive scheme, by region.

Gillian Keegan: The information requested for full year regional breakdown of apprenticeship starts for the academic years 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20 is published in the ‘Apprenticeships and traineeship’ statistical publication. This is as presented in the following link, which includes a breakdown by apprenticeship level and geographical region: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships-and-traineeships/2019-20#content-5-heading.The following link generates the specific geographical breakdown as requested:https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/fast-track/2db61536-defe-4f82-a7e1-c14980382938.The latest data on national apprenticeship planned incentive starts, broken down by month, is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships-and-traineeships/2020-21#content-12-heading. Geographical breakdowns of incentive payments are not yet available.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Energy

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of his Department's energy usage in (a) 2019, (b) 2020 and (c) 2021.

Caroline Dinenage: The Department’s energy is supplied by HMRC, from whom DCMS leases office space. The department has no buildings of its own.

Gambling: Internet

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will use the Review of the Gambling Act to ensure that the Gambling Commission can access all essential new and emerging evidence in its ongoing review into Remote Customer Interaction.

Mr John Whittingdale: The Gambling Commission’s consultation and call for evidence on Remote Customer Interaction closed on 9 February and received over 13,000 responses. The Commission is reviewing the evidence carefully and intends to publish a full report in the summer. An interim update can be found at the following link:https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/news/article/update-on-remote-customer-interaction-consultation The government’s Review of the Gambling Act is ongoing and we received 16,000 responses to our call for evidence. We have shared key submissions with the Gambling Commission, including on remote customer interaction.

Culture Recovery Fund

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the payment of the Cultural Recovery Fund for phase three is made in a timely manner.

Caroline Dinenage: Our Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) is worth £2 billion in total and is the largest investment in culture, art & heritage in UK history. Our delivery bodies are working hard to ensure payments from the first two rounds reach organisations quickly, and so far over 83% of all awarded CRF funding has been paid. Payments through the Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) are typically made in multiple tranches. Final payment is typically made at the very end of the grant period, once activities and costs have been reported. As part of the design process for the third round of the CRF, the Department has conducted various lessons learnt exercises to help us determine where to make design and delivery changes. Details on the third round of funding were published on 25 June, including a specific ‘emergency resource support’ strand that will provide funding quickly to those who are at imminent risk of failure. As with all large and complex funding packages, we will ensure that key lessons learned from the whole process are captured, and used to help improve grant delivery in the future.

Telecommunications: West Yorkshire

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential economic benefits of the Shared Rural Network for (a) Morley and Outwood constituency and (b) West Yorkshire.

Matt Warman: The focus of the world leading Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme is on improving connectivity in the more rural areas of the UK and not urban towns and cities. The SRN will see coverage in the region of Yorkshire and The Humber improve to 90% from 81% from all four mobile network operators, with coverage from at least one operator improving to 99% from 95%. This will allow rural businesses to improve operations and exploit the full potential of the internet across a range of sectors, levelling up the digital divide between urban and rural areas.

Broadband: Voucher Schemes

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 June 2021 to Question 16192 on Broadband: Voucher Schemes, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential effect of a commercial plan taking five years or more to deliver to premises on the success of Project Gigabit.

Matt Warman: DCMS remains committed to encouraging as much commercial build as possible, while using the £5bn Project Gigabit to fund build in areas that are not commercially viable for suppliers to connect. The government’s target, laid out in the National Infrastructure Strategy published last year, is for 85% of UK premises to have gigabit capable connectivity by 2025. Our current analysis expects commercial suppliers to connect at least 80% of UK premises, with Project Gigabit delivering at least a further 5% in this timeframe. A key component of Project Gigabit are the pre-procurement processes (Open Market Reviews / Public Reviews) to survey the market on their commercial build plans ahead of our major procurements. These will help us to identify premises in every part of the UK that the market does not intend to target commercially. This ensures that public money is not being used to subsidise gigabit capable connections that we know would otherwise be supplied commercially, which would limit the funding available for Project Gigabit to subsidise homes and businesses that are genuinely uncommercial. DCMS will be continually monitoring the market’s progress against their commercial build so we will be able to react to any changes in their plans and update the targeting of our interventions to ensure they remain focused on the areas that need our support.

Broadband: Urban Areas

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make it his policy to expand the Rural Gigabit Connectivity programme to include urban areas with poor broadband connectivity.

Matt Warman: The Rural Gigabit Connectivity (RGC) programme closed on 31st March 2021. The programme sought to test ways in which the government could intervene to provide gigabit broadband coverage in rural areas which were unlikely to be covered through commercial roll-out. The experience of the RGC programme has helped shape Project Gigabit, which is aimed at all premises which are not likely to be covered commercially. The government is working closely with telecoms providers through detailed market reviews to ensure that only premises which are not likely to get commercial gigabit coverage are in scope for Project Gigabit. This will include premises in urban areas if there are no commercial coverage plans in place. Today, over two in five premises can access gigabit-capable networks, up from just one in ten in November 2019. By the end of the year, 60% will have access, and by 2025 the government is targeting a minimum of 85% gigabit-capable coverage, working with industry to reach as close to 100% as possible.

Mobile Phones: Fees and Charges

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he is having with (a) major telecommunications networks and (b) his EU counterpart on preventing the reintroduction of roaming charges for UK citizens travelling in the EU.

Matt Warman: Ministers have regular discussions with senior representatives of mobile operators on a range of issues, including on the issue of mobile roaming, and the government will continue to promote a competitive marketplace that serves the interests of consumers. During negotiations for the Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU, the UK proposed continuation of reciprocal agreements between the UK and EU for surcharge free roaming, or a review clause to consider the need for these should roaming surcharges return for consumers. The EU did not agree to either of these proposals. Therefore, mobile operators are now able to impose a surcharge on UK consumers travelling abroad to the EU for their mobile phone usage. We advise that consumers check with their operators before travelling.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Correspondence

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many items of written correspondence from hon. Members sent to Ministers in his Department have been (a) received and (b) replied to since 1 April 2020; and how many of those responses were responded to by (i) Ministers and (ii) officials.

Mr John Whittingdale: 13,870 items of written correspondence from hon. Members have been received since 1 April 2020. Of these, 11,926 have been responded to and all responses were sent by Ministers. 817 items are waiting for a response and 1,127 were closed without a response (either because no response was required or because they were transferred to another department).

Gambling: Females

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department plans to take to help tackle gambling addiction among women.

Mr John Whittingdale: The NHS Long-Term plan, published in January 2019, announced the creation of up to 15 specialist gambling clinics by 2023/24. Work continues on the phased expansion of these services, enabling the NHS to explore how best to use existing treatment models to reach those most in need of support. In June 2020, the largest five (now four) gambling operators committed £100m over four years to problem gambling treatment services through the charity GambleAware, which is consulting with DHSC on the most effective way to use that money.A range of specialist support services for women are also available, such as GamCare’s Women’s Programme and Gordon Moody’s Retreat & Counselling Programme. Gordon Moody will also open a bespoke residential treatment centre for women this autumn. The government launched its Review of the Gambling Act 2005 on 8 December with the publication of a Call for Evidence. The Review will be wide-ranging and evidence-led and aims to make sure we have the right protections in place to make gambling safer for all.

Culture, Practices and Ethics of the Press Inquiry

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of re-establishing the Leveson Part Two inquiry.

Mr John Whittingdale: The Government has made clear that it does not intend to proceed with Part 2 of the Leveson Inquiry. This decision was reached following a public consultation and having taken into account all of the views and evidence submitted. Reopening the inquiry is no longer appropriate, proportionate, or in the public interest. This position was reiterated in the 2019 Conservative manifesto.

Women and Equalities

Disability: Candidates

Marsha De Cordova: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment her Department has made of the extent and nature of the barriers experienced by disabled people throughout the UK in contesting elections.

Marsha De Cordova: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if her Department will publish a report on the outcome of its research entitled, Research into the barriers to disabled people seeking elected office, that it launched on 29 January 2019, at the earliest possible date.

Kemi Badenoch: A research report into barriers facing disabled candidates was commissioned in December 2018. We intend to publish the report alongside an evaluation of the EnAble Fund in due course.

Attorney General

Crown Prosecution Service: Civil Proceedings

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Attorney General, how many cases of malicious prosecution the Crown Prosecution Service or any other previous prosecuting has [had upheld against it] since 1999.

Lucy Frazer: In respect of the two prosecuting agencies I superintend – the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) - neither have had any cases of malicious prosecution upheld against them since 1999.

Attorney General: Energy

Ruth Jones: To ask the Attorney General, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of his Department's energy usage in (a) 2019, (b) 2020 and (c) 2021.

Lucy Frazer: The following table sets out the total expenditure on energy (£) by the Government Legal Department (GLD) including HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI), the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Serious Fraud Office (SFO). These figures are published as part of each Department’s respective annual reports.  Total Expenditure on Energy (£)  Financial yearGLD + HMCPSICPSSFO2018-19568,725757,000135,0002019-20672,193657,000174,0002020-21333,033357,000Awaiting National Audit Office approval The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is unable to provide this information. As published in the HM Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor Annual Report and Accounts 2019/20, ‘The AGO occupies shared accommodation in 5-8 The Sanctuary, London and it is not possible to separately identify their energy or water consumption or recycling of waste’. The AGO has recently moved, all accommodation interests are now managed through the Government Property Agency (GPA) and that body will publish any sustainability data in relation to the AGOs occupation within 102 Petty France, London.